Derry’s Bloody Sunday Trust has told police it is keen to have the Clyde Valley flute band controversy sorted out before the next major Apprentice Boys’ parade through the city.
Members of the trust met senior police yesterday to discuss the band’s wearing of Parachute Regiment insignia in support of Soldier F during last Saturday’s Relief of Derry parade.
The band’s actions provoked a furious response from nationalist leaders who said they had been given assurances in two meetings with the Apprentice Boys that no Parachute Regiment or Soldier F displays would be allowed. The Apprentice Boys have denied giving any assurance although police, the Bogside Residents’ Group as well as business man, Garvan O’Doherty who attended the meetings were adamant that it was.
The Larne band was flanked by police as they marched and their bus was also detained by police as it left the city leading to an angry response by unionist politicians over the PSNI handling of the situation.
Chairman of the Trust, Tony Doherty said a meeting to discuss the incident with police yesterday had been very constructive.
“We had asked for the meeting to establish the facts about what happened on Saturday and to find out why the Clyde Valley band was able to proceed through the city,” Mr Doherty said.
“We were very keen to express our desire that there is no repeat of what happened and that relationships are restored before next major Apprentice Boys’ march which is Lundy’s Day in December.”
Mr Doherty said the delegation was also pleased that police remained adamant that and agreement was reached on the issue with the Apprentice Boys before last Saturday’s march.
“Police said commitments were given and there was no lack of clarity about the expectation that there would be no display of Parachute Regiment or Soldier F regalia at the march,” he said.
The Trust chairman has also welcomed comments from a founding member of the DUP criticising Clyde Valley’s behaviour.
Meanwhile, in a letter to The Irish News, Wallace Thompson described the band’s display as “unwise”. Mr Thompson, who is secretary of the Evangelical Protestant Society, also welcomed a statement from the Apprentice Boys’ acknowledging the “upset” the band had caused nationalists.
He said: “The apparent witch-hunt against soldiers who served here has angered and appalled many, but I think the band’s inclusion of the parachute regiment’s crest/soldier F on its uniform in Londonderry was, to put it mildly, very unwise.”
Mr Wallace said that perception was important and whatever the band’s motives were, its actions caused hurt and gave “ammunition” to those opposed to their traditions and heritage.
“Our parades are, above all else, Protestant parades. We must at all times be true to our Protestant principles and we must behave in a dignified and respectful manner,” he said.
Mr Doherty welcomed the comments. He said the band’s action had damaged Derry’s “community relations fabric”.
“We don’t like the fact that some people are putting up displays in other areas, but it is unacceptable that they try to do it where the massacre of Bloody Sunday took place,” Mr Doherty said.
