Loyalist parade passes off peacefully in Downpatrick

Loyalist parade passes off peacefully in Downpatrick

9 August 2023

A LOYALIST band parade in Downpatrick passed off peacefully on Monday night.

For the first time in over three decades, bands attending the event hosted by the Red Hand Defenders were given permission to parade from the Belfast Road to Mount Crescent and back to the assembly point.

Over 30 bands took part in the event with the route approved by the Parades Commission.

Previously, participants in the parade were not permitted beyond the 30mph speed limit signs at the Belfast Road, but the host band was allowed to parade to the War Memorial at the Old Belfast Road to lay a wreath.

Shortly after 7pm on Monday night, the Red Hand Defenders band made its way to the cenotaph for the wreath-laying before parading back along New Bridge Street and up towards Mount Crescent.

Mr Stephen Strain, the Red Hand Defenders band leader, has thanked everyone who supported the event, including bands and spectators.

“We want to thank everyone who has supported us over the years and all those who were there on Monday night,” he continued.

“There were a few bands who wanted to come down and support us but were unable to do so. We are grateful for all the support and some band members whose bands were not parading also came down to support us.”

Mr Strain said people came from far and wide to support the parade and he is especially pleased with how it went.

“We are very pleased how things went. Everything went very smoothly,” he added.

South Down DUP MLA Diane Forsythe, who attended the parade with party colleagues Glyn Hanna, Alan Lewis and Jonny Jackson, has congratulated the Red Hand Defenders.

She added: “It was fantastic to be there to join in this celebration of our local culture.  

“This band have proven community relations can be rebuilt and it is brilliant to see our bands parading the streets of Downpatrick again, for the first time in decades.”

Ahead of Monday night’s parade, the Parades Commission said it conducted “extensive outreach” in Downpatrick in March and received representations from the PSNI, church leaders and local community workers.

It said “multiple factors” were explored including the parade’s history, participants and impact, with most people expressing cautious open mindedness to the parade taking place along the proposed route.

In its determination, the Commission said the organising band outlined the “significant steps” taken to reduce the impact of the parade.

“Historically, this included altering the route away from the town centre and changing it from a weekend to a Monday evening,” the determination continued.

“Following the outreach with the Commission, the organisers expanded and deepened their efforts at engagement. The Commission is aware of further discussions between the organiser, local clergy and elected representatives, businesses and residents.

“In addition, they published an article in a local newspaper comprehensively outlining their history and intentions.”

The Commission confirmed that no objections were lodged against the parade, with organisers reiterating their commitment to delivering a respectful and peaceful event by careful band selection, marshalling and regular engagement with the PSNI, to minimise disruption.

“The Commission welcomes these efforts and assurances,” the determination continued.

“Representation was received in support of the parade.

“This emphasised the importance of the efforts taken by the band to facilitate the parade and its significance to the small community of unionist residents that reside along this parade route.

“They see this parade as an opportunity to prove that Downpatrick is a town that embraces all sides of the community and respects each others cultures.”