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Video: Masked Easter Rising march in Lurgan in defiance of police

Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann.
Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann. Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann.

Masked men and women took part in a commemoration in Lurgan at the weekend to mark the 101st anniversary of the Easter Rising.

They were part of a colour party that participated in an annual 1916 commemoration organised by Republican Sinn Féin in the town’s Kilwilkie estate.

Members of the hardline party gathered at local garden of remembrance which was opened last year in the Co Armagh town.

In previous years those taking part had marched through the area as they made their way to the republican plot in nearby St Colman’s Cemetery.

A PSNI Land Rover with a CCTV camera mounted on its roof monitored the masked colour party as it walked a short distance to the memorial garden.

PSNI vehicles outside St Colman's Cemetery in Lurgan as wreaths are placed at the republican plot by RSF @irish_news pic.twitter.com/cfwQgxOjug — Connla Young (@ConnlaYoung) April 15, 2017

It is believed the commemoration event was not notified to the Parades Commission.

A volley of shots was fired by a masked man during a similar event in St Colman’s Cemetery two years ago.

During Saturday’s commemoration, a masked man read out a statement on behalf of the “leadership of the republican movement”.

Republican Sinn Féin president Des Dalton spokek but the main oration was delivered by Ard Chomhairle member Gareth Banks.

Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann.
Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann. Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann.

“Our message remains the same, a new Ireland will never emerge from Leinster House or Stormont,” said Mr Banks.

“The only alternative is real revolutionary change which means removing both partitionist states."

UUP assembly member Doug Beattie condemned the commemoration.

Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann.
Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann. Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann.

“This dissident republican ‘parade’ takes place year after year, men and women dressed in paramilitary garb, with no permission from anyone,” he said.

“They are sticking two fingers up at the law abiding majority in Lurgan and wider society.”

“Whilst I appreciate the PSNI may not want to give these people the oxygen of publicity by taking direct action on the day, it is important that decisive action is seen to be taken in the hours and days ahead.

“We need to see people being brought before the courts, held accountable and sentenced.”

Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann.
Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann. Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann.

PSNI Chief Inspector Bernard O'Connor said: "Organisers of parades are required to give formal notification of their intentions. Warnings were given to participants and an evidence-gathering operation was in place."

And he added: "A robust investigation is now under way."

Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann.
Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann. Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann.

Meanwhile, several hundred people took part in an IRSP Easter parade through west Belfast yesterday.

During the main address at Milltown Cemetery, Michael McLaughlin paid tribute to “young volunteers who died in defence of the Irish Republican Socialist Party's right to exist”.

On Brexit, he added: "There is much talk of the re emergence of a hard border due to a British exit from the EU. This hard border already exists due to British and European Union austerity measures all over Ireland, an uncomfortable truth for some.

Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann.
Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann. Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann.

“A most dangerous yet subtle hard border than has ever existed, a hard border that unemployment, poverty, lack of opportunities, underemployment, fear of eviction creates, a hard border that exists at the front door of the majority of homes on this island.”

Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann.
Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann. Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann.
Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann.
Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann. Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann.
Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann.
Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann. Republican Sinn Fein colour party at a Easter commemoration in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh Picture Mal McCann.