Abuse at Fermanagh church parade being treated as sectarian hate crime

On Sunday (June 11), members of Trory LOL 647 and members of Trory Accordion Band were on parade to St. Michael’s Parish Church, Trory. As they marched toward the church, they heard chants of “up the RA”, “up the Celts”, and other sectarian phrases shouted at them from a car which later followed the parade onto the church grounds.

Video chants

In a video seen by The Impartial Reporter, the chants can be heard as well as the song, Celtic Symphony by the Wolfe Tones.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “On Sunday morning, June 11, police received a report that a church parade had been subjected to verbal abuse by the driver of a passing vehicle in the Trory area.”

Inspector Hughes of the PSNI said: “Enquiries are continuing and at this time, this is being treated as a sectarian motivated hate crime.

“We would appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident to contact us on 101.”

Reacting to the incident, a spokesperson for County Fermanagh Grand Orange Lodge described the incident as “extremely disappointing”.

He said: “The actions of those in the car only serves to highlight once again that there are some within our community who simply cannot respect or tolerate the culture, rights and views of others. And, once again, we have an incident where the glorification of IRA terrorists has been brought to the fore.

“For a parade to a Sunday Service to be subjected to pro-IRA chants is totally unacceptable and is rightly being investigated as sectarian motivated hate crime by the PSNI.”

Others who reacted to the incident included DUP Councillor Keith Elliott who was on parade during the incident

“As an eyewitness to the incident, I am saddened that this disturbing incident took place during the annual Trory LOL 647 Church Service. The event has never attracted this sort of behaviour and it was deeply shocking to all those that witnessed it.

“Understandably this behaviour was frightening for the children, and all involved. This was a blatant act of sectarianism; however we will not let this deter us from celebrating our culture.”

The car from which the alleged abuse came from.

DUP Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Deborah Erskine said: “Is this the type of behaviour Unionists can expect in the new Ireland Sinn Féin preach of?

“It is not surprising these incidents seem to be on the rise when Sinn Féin continue to glorify the IRA by attending events such as Sunday’s in South Armagh.

“I am deeply worried that there are still people within society who think it is popular or cool to promote terrorism and rewrite history. The actions of the individuals responsible for this sectarian incident, show how some individuals are still intent on traumatising and antagonising people within our community. It’s time Sinn Féin start showing true leadership and call this out.”

‘Blatant sectarianism’

Also reacting was Enniskillen UUP councillor, Roy Crawford.

“I am deeply saddened by this blatant act of sectarianism, and I have been informed that the young children involved in this parade have been greatly upset by the events that happened on Sunday.

“On the same afternoon, John Finucane attended and spoke at the 13th commemoration anniversary of the South Armagh IRA Volunteer Brigade.

“Republican terrorism was responsible for approximately 60 per cent of all killings during the Troubles, so as a society, we must challenge how some political leaders within nationalism are glorifying these heinous acts, and creating an environment to cause further harm for victims.”

As referenced by the politicians in their statements, Sinn Féin’s North Belfast MP, John Finucane spoke at the ‘South Armagh volunteers’ commemoration’ in South Armagh.

At the event, Mr. Finucane told crowds gathered: “Truth and justice applies equally to everyone, so too does the right to remember, and the right to commemorate.”