News

Loyalist flag protest group warn police: 'You will reap what you sow'

Masked loyalists threatened members of the PSNI and the Parades Commission in July last year 
Masked loyalists threatened members of the PSNI and the Parades Commission in July last year  Masked loyalists threatened members of the PSNI and the Parades Commission in July last year 

THE group behind the Union flag protests at Belfast city hall has warned that the PSNI will "reap what you sow" in an apparent veiled threat to police officers.

The Loyal Peoples Protest (LPP) posted the comment on its Facebook page, accusing police of not releasing photographs of suspects sought in connection with disorder in republican areas of Lurgan, Co Armagh, on Easter Monday.

The group wrote: "Not backward in coming forward when looking to arrest loyalists. Where's the photos of republicans?

"The truth is simple, the PSNI have made themselves an enemy of Ulster loyalists, and they should be ashamed. Reap What You Sow. NS (no surrender) LPP . . ."

Last summer a sinister question posed on social media by the North Antrim UPRG group, asked if officers "should be allowed to live" in unionist areas.

It came within weeks of masked and armed men issuing death threats to police officers and the Parades Commission, describing them as "legitimate targets."

The "reap what you sow" remark was used by DUP leader Ian Paisley in June 1986 to police officers who were removing him from Stormont during a sit-in protest against the dissolution of the Assembly.

Accusing some of the officers of mistreating him, Mr Paisley shouted: "Don’t come crying to me if your homes are attacked. You will reap what you sow."

The Loyal Peoples Protest briefly removed its Facebook page in March, after celebrating the deaths of those killed in Derry on Bloody Sunday.

A 12-hour union flag vigil was organised for Belfast city hall on St Patrick's Day by the group, while last month the LPP staged a demonstration against an Easter Rising commemoration parade through Belfast city centre.

A PSNI spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the comments."