Apprentice Boys to march amid protests
Fifteen thousand people are expected to attend Saturday’s Apprentice Boys’ parade in Londonderry, with a number of dissident republican protests also planned to coincide with the march.
Efforts are continuing to ensure the biggest loyal order parade of the year passes off as peacefully as last year’s.
The parade, which marks the anniversary of the siege of Derry in 1688/89, involves an estimated 10,000 Apprentice Boys, up to 5,000 supporters and a large number of bands.
A number of hard-line republican groups are also planning to stage protests during the event.
The 32 County Sovereignty Movement, regarded by many as the political wing of the Real IRA, will stage a rally in Shipquay Street about conditions for republican prisoners.
The group have set up camp in the Bogside as part of what they call “a two-day anti-internment camp.”
32CSM activist, Gary Donnelly, says the planned protest will be peaceful.
“We can guarantee that the protest, that anyone participating in our protest, we would call on them to be entirely peaceful, otherwise the message is lost if they erupt in violence.
“All our protests have been 100% peaceful and not one arrest has been made.”
Another protest is being organised by the Republican Network for Unity (RNU) and will be held at Free Derry Corner at 2pm.
Sinn Féin says community workers in the Bogside will be on the ground to divert young people away from any potential trouble.
Local MLA Raymond McCartney said: “Throughout this week, in the Bogside in particular, you have the Feile, and many events attended by every generation and young people in particular.
“On Saturday there will be events for young people to show the positive side of this community, and I welcome and support the efforts that community workers are doing in relation to this.”
Last year’s parade was the most peaceful in decades.
The Governor of the Apprentice Boys, Jim Brownlee, says that “only a very small minority” comes “with the intention of disrupting” the parade, which marks the culmination of the week-long Maiden City Festival.
“Over a number of years and in particular the last few years we’ve had peaceful parades”, he said.
“We’ve had a good understanding with the wider community. We’ve gone into talks with the wider community and we’ve discussed various issues.”
As a potential flashpoint, crowd control barriers will go up in and around the Diamond area and many shops will shut down. The rest of the city will stay open for business.
