Parade risks ‘glorification of terrorism’

A controversial band parade that “risks stepping over the line into the glorification of terrorism” is due to take place this weekend in Portadown, County Armagh.

Upper Bann MLA Eoin Tennyson was speaking as more than 400 people and 15 bands are expected to take part in the event billed as the Harris Boyle 50th Anniversary Memorial parade on Saturday.

Harris Boyle was known as one of the attackers of the Miami Showband murders in July 1975.

Alliance deputy leader Tennyson added: “Victims should be at the heart of any discussion we’re having about celebrations, commemorations and speaking about our past.”

The parade route is listed on the Parades Commissions website as starting at Levaghery Orange Hall, however, the Orange Order has said it’s not a parade it has sanctioned.

Speaking on The Nolan Show, Tennyson said: “To commemorate and celebrate in this public way is entirely inappropriate and I think it is absolutely wrong.”

Tennyson said that should apply to both sections of loyalism and republicanism.

DUP MP Sammy Wilson told Talkback that while he doesn’t know what the “intentions” of the parade organisers are, “I don’t believe that we should be, in any way, trying to glorify the terrorist acts of the past”.

Former DUP special advisor, David Graham said there is no doubt that this was an “incredibly tragic event and a needless act of violence”.

Mr Graham said: “We have failed to deal with the past in Northern Ireland, it is on all of us in a way.”

He said there are members of the Protestant, Unionist and Loyalist (PUL) community who feel like their identity is “constantly under attack” and this was a way for those people to protect and defend their identity.

He said the commemoration is “not something that I agree with”.

However, he said the first minister has said in unequivocal terms that there was no alternative in her view to the violence of the past, “there are many people not just in the PUL community, who will simply say, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander”.

Former Sinn Féin MP Francie Molloy said the first minister’s previous comments about violence in the past should be taken “in context”.

Mr Molloy added: “We don’t have a proper way for remembering the dead and everyone has a right to remember their dead.”

But, he said that the Miami Showband were some of the “most innocent” people, killed and the “UDR and UVF combined together to take out this band”.

Commenting on social media, UUP assembly member Doug Beatie, said the parade was “utterly appalling”.

The bomb and gun attack happened as the band, which toured across Ireland, travelled home to Dublin after a gig in Banbridge.

Their minibus was stopped by a fake Army patrol involving Ulster Defence Regiment and Ulster Volunteer Force members.

Harris Boyle was killed when the bomb which was placed on the Miami Showband bus exploded prematurely.

The gang then opened fire, murdering singer Fran O’Toole, guitarist Tony Geraghty and trumpeter Brian McCoy.

Stephen Travers and another band member, Des McAlea, were injured but survived.

The bomb also killed Wesley Somerville who was commemorated in April at a memorial parade in Moygashel in County Tyrone.