Stakeholder

Statement from the Parades Commission

The Parades Commission has welcomed the decision by the parade organiser of the ‘Pride of the Bann’ parade in Coleraine this coming Friday 29th May.

Commission Chairman Roger Poole said,

“The Commission met today to consider this parade and we heard representations from political representatives as well as police. It is clear that the recent sectarian murder in Coleraine has had a very significant impact on the local community. The Commission was strongly of the view that had the parade gone ahead as notified there was the potential for further deterioration in community relations in Coleraine and indeed across Northern Ireland.

“The parade organiser has taken recent events into account and the Commission welcomes the steps they have taken to alleviate tension ahead of the parade. We acknowledge that this decision relates to this weekend’s parade and is taken in the context of the violent attacks which occurred in recent days. The Commission is appealing for all concerned with the parade to approach the weekend in a calm and peaceful manner.”