McPhillips 'sets record straight' over parading

Editorial Department • Published 15 Jul 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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Dear Sir - The report carried on the front page of last week's edition regarding meetings in Newtownbutler over the parading issue was to say the least a complete distortion of the truth. I was going to add that your report would do justice to the infamous Sunday World, but it has kindly followed suit and copied your distorted story.

Allow me to set the record straight,

(1) A public meeting was convened in the old Courthouse to discuss and to decide what should be done about a proposed attempt by loyalists to lay siege to the village under the guise of a flute band competition on 02 July 2010.

(2) I attended that meeting which Councillor. O'Reilly chaired. Councillor O'Reilly NEVER proposed allowing this event to take place without opposition.

(3) Councillor. O'Reilly NEVER said that the nationalist people had to "deliver" ie. allow these loyalist events in order to draw down "peace money". I don't think the people are that easy bought !

(4) Councillor. O'Reilly NEVER made any proposal so how could either John Connolly or myself succeed in overturning this so called proposal ?

There were present also at the meeting people who were representing one of these "kick the Pope" bands and whilst their spokesperson attempted to do a good PR job on the motives or this proposed siege, he was stopped in his tracks when he was challenged about their support for the loyalist death squads as was displayed on their website. He was unable to explain other than to deny that he had anything to do with the website.

I formally proposed that this attempt to put what is a 98.5% nationalist village under siege, should be rejected and opposed. This was seconded by John Connolly and was carried by an overwhelming majority in the hall.

A brief discussion took place regarding the two church parades in July and August and it was generally agreed that they were not problematic provided that they did not deviate from previous years, likewise the two Twelfth morning parades out from the Orange Hall.

I at no stage referred to the loyal orders and I did not propose that the two church parades should be allowed to make the return leg.

I made it clear to those representing these "kick the Pope" bands that their motives were as outlined on the Pulse loyalist website and that was to put their boot on the Taigs neck, I make no apology for informing them that here was one Taig who wouldn't be having it.

It is clear that these loyalist hardliners think that they can come in and trample on the people in an overwhelmingly nationalist village, they are neither wanted nor indeed welcomed in this village.

I would like to see the reaction were I to propose to hold a republican demonstration in Ballinamallard or in Kesh or in Lisbellaw. I would suggest that it wouldn't be allowed to happen. I would appreciate that the people of those villages wouldn't want it either, therefore I would respect their position. It is time that those loyalists who continue to seek confrontation with the people of Newtownbutler showed the aforementioned respect.

Yours faithfully,

Tony McPhillips

This letter appeared in Impartial Reporter 15 Jul 10

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