THE Parades Commission has rejected two requests to review a decision to ban a controversial loyalist band from marching through a mainly nationalist village in Co Antrim.
Dervock Young Defenders have been told by the Parades Commission they will not be allowed to take part in the march through Rasharkin on Friday night because of the way they behaved during a Twelfth parade last month.
It is understood two requests for a review were rejected on Tuesday while a third will be heard today.
The controversial band last night appealed to other loyalist bands across the north to help it raise cash to launch a legal challenge of the decision.
In a statement posted on its Facebook page it said it did not accept the decision and described the Parades Commission as an “unelected quango”.
Up to 21 bands are expected to take part in the march which has been organised by Ballymaconnelly Sons of Conquerors.
The village has been at the centre of a long-running parades dispute involving residents and loyal orders.
The Dervock flute band came to prominence last month when members, some of whom were wearing Union flag face masks, were involved in a confrontation with independent Causeway Coast and Glens councillor Padraig McShane during a July 12 parade in Ballycastle.
Mr McShane was then arrested following an altercation with police.
Days later a bus used by the band was burnt out in a suspected arson attack.
In a hard-hitting determination, the Parades Commission said it received information and evidence about the “band’s perceived provocative conduct on that day included wearing face masks, drunkenness and rowdy and antagonistic behaviour”.
It also said it received complaints that a “protester’s conduct had been threatening and provocative”.
The commission said strict conditions imposed on the parade in previous years are still required but “it has also considered it necessary and proportionate to mitigate heightened community tensions by excluding from the parade the Dervock flute band".
Other restrictions include a ruling that bands should only play a single side drumbeat along a section of the route through Rasharkin.
Rasharkin Residents Collective spokesman Sean Hanna welcomed he decision.
“The Dervock band have no connection with Rasharkin and we are more concerned about the denial of rights to businesses and elderly people from getting health care rather than the rights of a band to march through the village,” he said.
Sinn Féin’s Daithí McKay also welcomed the ban saying the “decision not to allow this band to take part will reduce tensions around the parade this year”.
Ulster Unionist councillor Darryl Wilson slammed the determination.
“Their reasons and rationale are extremely weak, citing "perceived provocative conduct" by the band at the Twelfth of July demonstration which took place in Ballycastle last month,” he said.
“Once again the Parades Commission pander to a republican agenda which is wholly focused on disruption and intolerance.”
