POLICE are preparing to mount a major operation in Stoneyford on St Patrick's Day when a controversial parade by the Pride of the Village Flute band takes place.
The controversial parade was given the go-ahead by the Parades Commission last week. However severe restrictions were put in place with the march to last no longer than 15 minutes and a ban on walking through three mixed housing estates.
A Polic
e spokesperson said: "The policing operation for Wednesday's parade in Stoneyford will be appropriate and proportionate and is aimed at ensuring that the event passes off safely and peacefully, whilst minimising any disruption to the wider community who are not taking part."
Assisant Chief Constable Alistair Finlay told Sinn Fein councillors during a meeting on Wednesday (March 10) that a major policing operation would be carried out on the day.
Sinn Fein Councillor Paul Butler.
Sinn Fein MLA Paul Butler said: "We put to the PSNI a case to ban this march given our concerns about this flute band. This parade is facing the most severe of restrictions imposed on it by the Parades Commission which we welcome."
During the meeting, Sinn Fein told ACC Finlay of their serious concerns about the motives behind the parade.
Mr Butler added: "The PSNI assured me they will enforce the Parades Commission ruling and I accept and welcome this assurance. I also understand the PSNI explanation for not banning this parade."
SDLP Councillor Brian Heading.
SDLP Councillor Brian Heading also welcomed the Parades Commission ruling. "We told the Commission when we met them that this is an ill-advised parade by any standard, first by its timing and second because parades by this band have damaged community relations. But if it must take place it is right and proper that it should face tight restrictions" he said.
"The Commission is showing the band a lot of leeway because the organisers did not put in a proper notification – the Commission noted that the organiser's name is illegible. The police have been able to identify only one of the named marshals and he says he had not been asked. Nor could the band even be bothered giving a reason for parading on St Patrick's day, and the Commission notes with marvellous under-statement that the purpose could be 'mischevious'.
"The important point is that the Commission has fully recognised the danger of intimidation arising around this band's parades, as happened in the past."
In its ruling, the Parades Commission said the march can only go from its assembly point at the Orange Hall along Main Street and that it must finish within 15 minutes. It is also banned from going through a number of mixed housing areas in the village.
The Commission said it had a number of concerns in relation to the notification of the parade which, it said, left the question unanswered whether or not it is a "mischievous notification to parade in Stoneyford from an unrelated third party; or, indeed, whether it is a genuine notification from the Pride of the Village band". In spite of that they decided they had enough information to make a determination.
The Commission said it understood Stoneyford 'has seen sectarian tension, and that the organising band has been the focus of concerns about sectarian intimidation in the village'.
"The Commission considers that the notification of this parade can only give rise to renewed tensions in Stoneyford. As it has done previously in considering parades notified by this band, the Commission suggests to the organiser that he reflect carefully on whether his actions are in the best interests of community relations in Stoneyford; and if they are helping to further the interests of parading as a peaceful, cultural tradition," they said.
