A LOYALIST band is believed to have played music at a cross community cemetery on the outskirts of Belfast earlier this month.
Belfast City Council has confirmed it is aware that a band played music at Roselawn Cemetery, on the outskirts of east Belfast, on July 11.
The council owned cemetery is used by both Protestant and Catholic families as a final resting place for their loved ones.
Several loyalists are also buried in the cemetery, which houses a crematorium.
It is understood grieving relatives were visiting graves when the incident took place and reported it to cemetery staff.
One caller to the Irish News said the unidentified band played “party tunes” and marched down a path at the cemetery.
It is understood Scottish loyalists had planned to hold an “annual memorial service” in the cemetery on the day of the incident.
A post on a Facebook page linked to Bridgeton UDU, a loyalist organisation believed to be located in the Bridgeton area of Glasgow, said: ““All friends and comrades welcome. Quis Separabit.”
The notice said another group, Renfrew UDU, also based in Scotland, was also planning to take part in the service.
Renfrew UDU’s Facebook page carries pro UDA images including a picture of a gun.
A spokeswoman for Belfast City Council said no rules were broken by the band.
“Belfast City Council can confirm that we are aware of a band playing music at Roselawn Cemetery on July 11,” she said.
“It is believed that the incident occurred when visiting a grave.
“No permission was sought or given for music to be played on this occasion.”
However, a spokeswoman for the Parades Commission said:” Whilst a parade in a cemetery is not taking place on a public road, it is still a parade in a public area and therefore could come under the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998.”
It is understood the only exception to this is when a funeral is taking place
Alliance Party councillor Sian O’Neill, who is deputy chair of the People and Communities Committee, said she was aware of the incident and “will be monitoring the situation going forward”.
“While there are no rules to say music cannot be played, Roselawn is a respected place of remembrance for those from all faith backgrounds and we must ensure its shared nature is upheld,” she said.
The SDLP declined to comment while Sinn Féin did not respond to requests for a comment.
