AN Easter parade organised by hardline republicans has been described as “lacking sensitivity” after it emerged it will take place in Derry on the third anniversary of Lyra McKee’s death.
The 29-year-old was shot dead by the New IRA as she watched a riot in the Creggan estate on April 18 2019.
The parade is being planned by the National Republican Commemoration Committee, which organises events on behalf of anti-agreement republican party Saoradh.
The route of the parade, which will take place on Easter Monday, is not yet known.
SDLP assembly member Mark H Durkan last night said commemoration events should be “respectful and mindful” of the wider community.
“It’s particularly lacking sensitivity that it has fallen on the anniversary of Lyra McKee who was brutally murdered on the streets three years ago,” he said.
Mr Durkan said he would prefer if there was no parade.
“My view is they should not be doing it all but who am I to tell them that,” he said.
“They should certainly look at not doing it in a confrontational way.”
In recent years the annual “Unfinished Revolution” themed commemoration has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement the National Republican Commemoration Committee said:”We are confident that republican Free Derry will once again give a warm and comradely welcome to all those republicans throughout Ireland who will make the effort to rededicate themselves to achieving freedom.
“It is not a crime to commemorate the republican dead and we will cherish their memory and selfless sacrifice.”
In 2017 the committee held an Easter parade headed by a large colour party dressed in combat style clothing, which led those taking part from Free Derry Corner to the city cemetery.
A year later violence broke out after a locally organised procession, led by a masked colour party, marched from the Creggan estate to the city cemetery.
