Parade goes ahead despite legal bid
A CONTESTED band parade took place in Fermanagh on Friday night after the failure of a legal bid to stop it.
The event, organised by the Newtownbutler Border Defenders, attracted around a thousand participants and spectators.
A protest was held by the Newtownbutler Area Residents Association who tried to drown out the band music with vuvuzela horns – made popular at this year’s World Cup.
Ulster Unionist Fermanagh MLA Tom Elliott who was at the event told the News Letter that the parade passed off peacefully.
He said the number of protesters exceeded the 100 that had been permitted in the Parades Commission ruling.
“I can’t see any reason why protestors tried to get this parade stopped, it does not affect any main thoroughfares and is on the outskirts of the town,” he said.
“It just demonstrates the protestors’ total lack of tolerance for the Protestant community here.”
Earlier yesterday a resident from the Fermanagh village lost an attempt to force the event to be scrapped.
They were seeking to judicially review the lack of restrictions imposed by the Parades Commission on last night’s procession.
Lawyers for the applicant said up to 500 bandsmen and the same number of followers could attend the village which has a 90 per cent Catholic population.
But following arguments Mr Justice Treacy dismissed the application for a new determination on the basis of delay in bringing it.
