Orange Order dismisses McGuinness Twelfth invite
The Orange Order has moved to dismiss any suggestion it would invite Sinn Féin deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to its Twelfth of July celebrations.
It comes after the Mid Ulster MLA told the Impartial Reporter newspaper that he would give “serious consideration” to attending the Twelth of July if the Orange Order were “big enough” to invite him.
Events to mark the victory of King William III over Catholic James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 have long been the source of intensified community tensions in certain parts of Northern Ireland.
While the majority of loyal order parades pass off peacefully, a number of flashpoints remain on the routes of disputed marches, with some recent Twelfths marred by outbreaks of both loyalist and republican violence in Belfast.
Mr McGuinness said he appreciates what the occasion means to the unionist community and takes great pride in what happened in his city, “particularly the tremendous work that the Apprentice Boys have been involved in with the local community”.
“Derry is peaceful, we never have any concerns about parades of any description denigrating into violence or ignorance or discourtesy,” he continued.
“People conduct themselves very well indeed and I take great pride in that. I have consistently paid tribute to the work not just of local residents but of the Apprentice Boys who I do think by their presence in the city enrich our lives.”
However on Thursday the Orange Order dismissed any notion of inviting Mr McGuinness to any of its Twelfth celebrations.
A statement referred to the deaths of more than 300 Orangemen at the hands of republican paramilitaries during the Troubles as one of the main reasons why they would not make the gesture.
“There were 333 of our Brethren murdered during the Troubles, the overwhelming majority by the Provisional IRA, of which Martin McGuinness was a prominent member and proud to belong,” a spokesperson said.
“Many of our murdered Brethren were serving or retired members of the Crown Forces. Sinn Féin have never apologised, nor shown genuine remorse, for the murder of the Crown forces.
“To offer an invitation to Martin McGuinness would insult their memory and bring further hurt and distress to many families.”
They added: “The Orange Institution is actively involved in bridge building at many levels, but there are some things that as an organisation and as a Unionist community are at present beyond the pale.”
Mr McGuinness reiterated on Friday that he had said he was asked he would attend if invited to a parade.
To clarify,I was asked by a journalist if I would attend an Orange Parade.I said if an invite came I would consider it.#ReachingOut #Peace
— Martin McGuinness (@M_McGuinness_SF) January 21, 2016
