Northern Ireland

Loyalist flags designed to provoke on St Patrick's Day

A UVF flag similar to this one was erected in Coleraine on St Patrick's Day
A UVF flag similar to this one was erected in Coleraine on St Patrick's Day A UVF flag similar to this one was erected in Coleraine on St Patrick's Day

LOYLALISTS chose St Patrick's Day to erect a UVF flag to provoke Catholics, it has been claimed.

Police said they received a report about a flag put up in the Pates Lane area of Coleraine on March 17.

East Derry SDLP assembly member John Dallat said attempts were also made to take down a tricolour.

Mr Dallat said he had spoken to police and appealed for calm.

"This area of Coleraine has seen enough trouble in the past and needs to be left in peace. To choose St Patrick's Day to erect loyalist paramilitary flags is an act of extreme provocation and not a good omen for the future peace of this neighbourhood which saw enough hate crimes in the past," he said.

"I appeal to everyone not to react to this kind of sectarianism but to focus on what we have in common and that surely includes celebrating our patron saint collectively rather than going round in numbers erecting flags associated with a past which failed all of us."

Police confirmed that the flag had been put up adding officers were working closely with community representatives "to resolve the issues associated with flags in the area and find acceptable solutions".

"The removal of flags is not an issue for the PSNI," a spokesman said.

"Police will only act to remove flags if there are substantial risks to public safety. We work with communities and partners to respond to any issue where there is a concern for public safety or where a criminal offence has occurred."

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin assembly member Sinéad Ennis has praised the actions of party activists in Rostrevor who took down tricolours at a Church of Ireland.

"It is Sinn Féin’s position is that no flag or emblem should be erected to mark out territory, to harass, or intimidate anyone and it was clearly provocative to erect flags close to a place of worship," she said.

"There have been good relations between all the people who live in Rostrevor and its hinterland. The actions of one individual responsible for erecting the flags certainly do not reflect the will of the people of Rostrevor and will be roundly condemned."