DUP Leader Peter Robinson has hit out at comments made by Martin McGuinness regarding Loyal Order parades in Northern Ireland. Mr Robinson accused Sinn Fein of an abdication of leadership and said that having actively encouraged parade protests in the past Sinn Fein now has a duty to help solve problems which they helped create. Speaking today Mr Robinson said,
“The comments by Martin McGuinness are an abdication of leadership by Sinn Fein on the parades issue. His comments totally ignore the fact that Sinn Fein has a legacy of opposing and organising protests against Loyal Order parades right across Northern Ireland.
The Loyal Orders are an integral part of our culture but there is intolerance towards parades by many in the nationalist and republican community. Rather than play to the gallery, Martin McGuinness should demonstrate leadership by promoting greater tolerance and respect of parades. This is the kind of maturity which will be required if we are to see a resolution to the parades issue.
Sinn Fein was clearly involved in the Ardoyne protest last Friday night. Whilst the protest application estimated forty participants and nine stewards, it is no surprise that several hundred people were attracted and that violence against parade participants and the police ensued. I commend the Orange brethren and the band for their exemplary behaviour in the face of violence and provocation, but Sinn Fein cannot wash its hands of the violence which clearly emanated from their own protest.
Instead of organising protests against parades, it is time for Sinn Fein to actually implement the ‘shared and better future’ committed to within the Programme for Government. Part of that ‘shared future’ must be recognition of shared space. Sinn Fein’s opposition to parades, even where a clear majority of people support and participate in parades, exposes an intolerance which republicans need to accept and tackle within their own community.
As leader of the largest unionist Party in Northern Ireland, I am gravely concerned that there appears to be a backward movement by republicans with regard to parading. There will be other parades taking place within coming weeks and months. Sinn Fein must take on their mantle of leadership and maturity if Northern Ireland is not to be dragged into the past with further displays of violence and intolerance.”
