Opinion

Analysis: Derry's parades' model must be defended at all costs

Images showing members of a flute band wearing shirts with a Parachute Regiment logo on the sleeves during the annual Apprentice Boys parade in Derry were shared on social media
Images showing members of a flute band wearing shirts with a Parachute Regiment logo on the sleeves during the annual Apprentice Boys parade in Derry were shared on social media Images showing members of a flute band wearing shirts with a Parachute Regiment logo on the sleeves during the annual Apprentice Boys parade in Derry were shared on social media

In 1969 the intransigence of unionist leadership and the Apprentice Boys in refusing point black to re-route their Relief of Derry parade sparked the Battle of the Bogside.

Fifty years on, almost to the day, it is a terrible irony that it was youths who would no doubt describe themselves as nationalist or republican who attacked the Apprentice Boys memorial hall on Saturday night with petrol bombs. In so doing, they risk damaging the parades agreement that has become known as the Derry model.

The RUC’s killing of Sammy Devenny in 1969, their brutal suppression of the October 5 1968 civil rights’ march and loyalist attacks on nationalists demanding equality, increased tensions in Derry to boiling point.

In a desperate effort to avoid further violence, nationalist leaders called on the Apprentice Boys to re-route their August 12 march. The Apprentice Boys refused leading to the Battle of the Bogside. While the situation may have gone beyond the point of no return at that time, that decision also contributed to the years of murder, suffering and pain that followed.

The annual Relief of Derry march has always been controversial. It was seen as triumphalist by Derry’s nationalist majority; as unionism saying we own your city.

In the mid-1990s, it – along with the annual Closing the Gates parade in December – again sparked violence, laying waste to Derry’s hopes to develop as a modern city. Following the Drumcree parades violence, there were stand-offs in Derry when the Bogside Residents’ said they’d had enough and weren’t going to be treated as second class in their own city.

In a remarkable achievement, the city’s business community, led by Garvan O’Doherty, supported by political leaders such as John Hume, brought the two sides together to produce the 'Derry Model'. In this, the Apprentice Boys agreed to respect the city in which the marched. In return, the people of Derry allowed them to march through their city.

The Apprentice Boys agreed to marshal their parades closely, banned drink, banned offensive behaviour. The organisation launched an annual festival – supported financially by the Irish government – to explain their ethos as a historical organisation to the wider community. They moved their December march to the first Saturday of the month to facilitate Christmas trade.

While there were exceptions, as a result the Apprentice Boys’ march became so un-news worthy that police this year didn’t even issue a press statement alerting the public to the possibility of traffic disruption.

That’s not to say that there is widespread support from Derry’s nationalist majority for the Apprentice Boys. However, they are tolerated. The Derry model has been rightfully held up as an example of best practice in dealing with parades.

Given how hard it was to hammer out the Derry model, a process which is supported by the vast, vast majority of the people of Derry, it is outrageous that a small number of hate-the-worlds should try to destroy it.

It is disgraceful that visitors to the city should be allowed flaunt offensive Parachute Regiment insignia. It is shocking that unionist leaders should pose at a banner which can only offend the majority in a city where the Parachute regiment’s only legacy was the carnage of Bloody Sunday.

It is likewise hugely worrying that petrol bombs were initially thrown at Apprentice Boys after a relatively uneventful event. The fact that the initial two petrol bombs were followed up by around 20 thrown at police shows the attack was planned and prepared for, presumably in the full knowledge of the damage it would do.

It is also significant that the same so-called nationalists and republicans should risk destroying a parades agreement that was hard won by Derry’s nationalist majority. It goes without saying that calm heads must prevail; that those who wish to be leaders should show true leadership on both sides and protect the Derry parades’ model.