Talks underway to stop further trouble

Talks underway to stop further trouble

29 August 2012

TALKS are underway to prevent a repeat of sectarian trouble which flared during a parade in Killyleagh three weeks ago.

Fighting broke out between Loyalist bandsmen and customers in a Cross Street pub on August 11, with two police officers and several civilians injured when the parade passed the town’s only Catholic-owned pub The Central.

It has been confirmed this week that talks between unionist politicians, parade organisers and the PSNI are currently underway to discuss what happened and to ensure there is no further trouble.

Unionist politicians are also expected to meet with the Parades Commission within the next fortnight to discuss what happened in Killyleagh on August 11. The Commission has formally asked police for a report on the violence after the parade.

The parade was hosted by the Killyleagh Apprentice Boys and marked the organisation’s return home to the town after the annual Apprentice Boys demonstration, but trouble flared when it reached the pub in Cross Street.

Killyleagh DUP councillor Billy Walker was severely criticised in a number of quarters last week for not publicly condemning the trouble and for suggesting the bandsmen were provoked by pub customers who, he said, should have stayed indoors.

Speaking this week Mr. Walker said he did not condone what happened, although he still did not condemn the violence.

But he argued it is important that before people start making accusations, they should “appraise themselves of all the facts about what sparked the incident.”

Councillor Walker continued: “I do not condone what happened in Killyleagh and regret the incident. There was fault on both sides and I am particularly annoyed at criticism levelled at me by nationalist and republican politicians who don’t represent the town and who only appear to condemn incidents they perceive to be sectarian.”

Councillor Walker, who claimed local band members making their way home after parades have been assaulted and verbally abused, also vehemently rejected claims he is “sectarian and doesn’t care for his town.”

He continued: “Nothing could be further from the truth, but I have my unionist principles which I hold dearly. I have been involved in working for the good of the town since 1987 when I got involved in community work and have worked tirelessly for all the people of the town, irrespective of class, colour or creed. I would publicly challenge anyone to refute this.

“There have been a number of incidents over the past two years involving the town’s Parish Priest including an attack on his home and I was the first politician to visit him and set up meetings with police to have the issues resolved. No other politician got involved or offered to help. For anyone to suggest that I am sectarian is totally wrong.”

Councillor Walker said he has the utmost respect for the people of Killyleagh and will continue to work for them and the good of the town.

He added: “I was instrumental in arranging talks to discuss the recent incident in Killyleagh which involve my party colleagues, parade organisers and the PSNI. We also plan to meet the Parades Commission as we feel parades in Killyleagh have been ‘unfairly demonised’ by others. It’s also important people who were on the ground at the time of the incident make the Commission aware of all the facts.

“We all want to move forward and ensure what happened never happens again.”