Apprentice Boys: Negotiator says band 'no longer welcome'

The police flanked members of Clydevalley Flute Band from Larne during Saturday's parade

A band that wore a Parachute Regiment emblem at an Apprentice Boys parade in Londonderry should not march in the city again, a parades negotiator says.

Garvan O'Doherty said the Parachute Regiment insignia with the letter 'F' breached an agreement reached ahead of Saturday's parade.

It was worn by members of Clyde Valley Flute Band from Larne.

The Apprentice Boys said they recognised the potential upset caused by the emblem.

Thirteen people were shot dead when members of the Army's Parachute Regiment opened fire on civil rights demonstrators on Bloody Sunday in Derry in 1972.

An ex-paratrooper, known as Soldier F, is facing prosecution for two murders.

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Members of Clydevalley Flute Band from Larne wore the symbol with the letter 'F' on their shirts during Saturday's parade

Mr O'Doherty, who has been involved in parades discussions for two decades, said he attended meetings with Bogside residents and Apprentice Boys both in early July and again in early August.

"We all agreed at the meeting we didn't want political or sectarian messages and we all agreed that we would do all that we can to make sure that didn't take place," he said.

"Clearly, this band slipped through, one band out of 145 chooses to cause a bit of turmoil. We can't let the band ruin the process; we cannot let this process be derailed."

He added: "I wouldn't have them about the city anymore."

On Tuesday evening, the Apprentice Boys governor, Graeme Stenhouse, said the loyal order had "no prior knowledge of the band's uniform, or this incident, until the conclusion of the main parade on Bond Street".

"We recognise this may have caused upset to many in the nationalist community," he said.

Police had escorted the band during Saturday's parade and later stopped the band's bus.

Mr Stenhouse said the parade should not be used as a means to "heighten tensions in a shared city".

The governor again rejected claims that an agreement about symbols supporting the Parachute Regiment had been put in place before the march.

'You would think that their statement was from a nationalist group'

Other bands who marched on Saturday have since pulled their support for the Apprentice Boys of Derry in light of their recent statement condemning the Clyde Valley Flute Band's actions.

Rathcoole Protestant Boys have shown their support for Clyde Valley in a Facebook post where they announced they would not participate in another Apprentice Boys of Derry parade again.

The post described Graeme Stenhouse's statement as if it "was from a nationalist group" and argued that the band had been "hung out to dry".

Cloughfern Young Conquerors and Pride of Ballybeen have also decided to terminate contracts with the Derry organisation and will not march in future annual celebrations in the city such as Lundy's Day parade.

The Pride of Greenisland said they too would be unable to attend any future Apprentice Boys of Derry parades in the city.

It added the decision was in "response to the despicable actions of the PSNI against Clyde Valley Flute Band and the lack of support they have received since then".

'Strong concerns'

Mr Stenhouse insisted there had been no prior agreement on symbols.

"We would never place our marshals under such difficult circumstances."

The DUP and UUP met PSNI officials separately on Tuesday to discuss Saturday's policing operation.

Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster said that a lot of loyalists are concerned by the police approach.

UUP leader Robin Swann said the police "intervention could've been handled in a completely different way".

Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin said he had "listened carefully to all the strong concerns that have been raised" and that there will be a full debrief of the force's actions.

Clyde Valley Flute Band said that the symbol on their shirts was an expression of "a legitimately held view which they are entitled to hold".

"The officers of the band wish to correct any false impression which may be held regarding the band's uniform being deliberately provocative and specifically designed for the parade in Londonderry," the band said in a statement.