Orange law paraded in Belfast

Posted by Jim on October 6, 2012

 There have been calls for the Parades Commission to be scrapped after  legally-binding restrictions on the giant Ulster Covenant parade were  again ignored by Orangemen and loyalist bands on Saturday.

 The most provocative behaviour was seen in east Belfast, where a  loyalist mob took advantage of the relative absence of media cameras to  incite bandsmen to engage in hate-filled actions.

  The chanting and shouting of loyalists fused with the hammering of drums  to reach a terrifying crescendo outside St Matthew’s Catholic Church as  its bells struck at 6pm.

 From the outset a number of bands disregarded the restrictions and  played ‘The Sash’, The Famine Song – the source of controversy when  played outside St Patrick’s Church on the other side of the city centre  on the Twelfth of July – and other sectarian tunes, to the delight of  loyalists waving flags and holding banners.  At the same time,  nationalists were cordoned off from their own church and community.

 Only one of over twenty loyalist bands passing the church on their  return obeyed large electronic road signs warning them to play ‘sacred  music’ only.

 At various stages during the day loyalist spectators also broke into  spontaneous renditions of ‘The Sash’ as the parade passed by. By 5pm the  main road was strewn with the cast-off litter of beer boxes and cans and  bottles as the mob became increasingly intoxicated.

 On several occasions spectators, some of whom were drinking openly,  verbally abused a band and Orange Order members because they did not  play ‘The Sash’ as they passed St Matthew’s.

 Supporters also jeered when a bands walked past the church to a single  drum beat.

 As tension started to rise one woman stepped into the road and held up a  placard reading: ‘We don’t want hymns’ before shouting “No Surrender”.

 One bandsman could be clearly seen urinating against the gate pillars  into the church — which had cancelled Saturday’s scheduled morning Mass– as women and children walked past.

 One of the returning bands stopped to playing loyalist tunes outside the  grounds of the church.

 The last bandsmen passed after the supposed deadline of 6pm — but not  before the playing and singing of sectarian tunes had reached fever  pitch.

 STILL NO RESPECT

 In north Belfast, the presence of the international media and a banner  held by nationalist residents again calling for ‘Respect’ failed to  deter a number of loyalist bands from starting up sectarian tunes as  they passed the doors of the church.

 The restriction to play hymns outside the church was openly mocked by  the loyalists.

 Several bands deliberately paused to beat drums as loudly as possible at  the doors of St Patrick’s, with one loyalist jumping around in a  hysterical fashion.

  “I have never heard ‘Abide With Me’ played with such vigour,” said local  priest Fr Michael Sheehan.

  There was no sign of the Young Conway Volunteers, the Shankill band who  sparked months of trouble around St Patrick’s by playing the sectarian  Famine Song and walking in circles outside its doors on the Twelfth of  July.

  But Frank Dempsey of the Carrick Hill Residents Association said the  Parades Commission determination had been “smashed” [destroyed].

  Pensioner Elish McEarlean, who was stopped by the PSNI at North Queen  Street and prevented from accessing her regular church service at St  Patrick’s, described the cordon stopping her as “a disgrace”.

 She was eventually allowed through to Mass.

 Sinn Fein assembly member Gerry Kelly said bands had behaved  “provocatively”.

 “If the bands had played a single drum beat or were silent when they  passed the church as the residents asked, there would be no issue. That  said it has been calm there was no trouble but the core issue of mutual  respect remains unresolved,” he said.