Anger after loyalist bandsmen urinate at priest’s home in Limavady
A public apology has been demanded after two loyalist bandsmen were photographed appearing to urinate against the gate of a Catholic parochial house in Limavady.
The men, who were from a band from outside the town, were among 26 bands taking part in a parade organised by Star of the Roe band.
They left the parade and urinated against the gate of Monsignor Brian McCanny’s home which is beside St Mary’s church in Irish Green Street.
Councillor Anne Brolly said that in the interests of good community relations ahead of this year’s flagship 12th July celebrations in Limavady, not only should the band apologise to Msgr McCanny but it should be a public apology.
The Sinn Fein representative added: “This is a very grave matter and it is a real concern not just to the Catholic community but to the unionist community too, so in the interests of good continued community relations an apology needs to be public, which will go some way to allay fears about what will happen on 12 July.
“This year the 12 July celebrations are due to be held in Limavady but this incident and the insult it has caused to the Catholic community will cast a shadow.
“The police need to take action against the two individuals in the photograph because at the very least they are committing an offence by publicly exposing themselves.”
A source close to the Star of the Roe band confirmed that the bandmaster has already said sorry to Msgr McCanny but was unable to say if the offending band had replicated this apology.
He said: “We carried out risk assessment ahead of the band parade but could not have envisioned that this would have happened, however we can say that we will make sure it does not happen again.”
He added: “This parade like others in Limavady was closely marshalled and I carried out a risk assessment but we did not anticipate that something like this would happen.
“This is now a matter for the police and we will hand over our risk assessments to them in due course.”
The PSNI and Parades Commission have confirmed the matter was being investigated.
Police are thought to have already cautioned one man over the incident.
