Ballykeel Loyal Sons FB accuse Sinn Fein of 'pure sectarian hatred'

"PURELY sectarian hatred against the Protestant people enjoying their culture and celebrating it", is how a spokesman for Ballykeel Loyal Sons of Ulster has described "the antics of a dissident republican element" in attendance at their annual parade in the town on Saturday, May 22.

The spokesman also alleged that children as young as eight were verbally abused and had coins and lit cigarettes thrown at them whilst they were on parade through one town centre street.

He stated: “From the first band to the last band of the 66 which walked in the town last week they all had something of a sectarian nature called out to them by a drunken mob.

“The tactical support unit of the PSNI had to be deployed to keep the unruly mob of 10-15 people under control after the 16th band had passed this point when they made the move to assault a bandsman who was filming his own band and the abuse which they had to endure.

“We will be helping the police with every fibre we possess to bring this mob to justice,” he said.

“A coin struck a child on the neck in a band, band members were spat at on numerous occasions, disgusting sectarian slogans were shouted along with IRA slogans and as the last band of the evening left William Street a bottle was thrown against a road sign from the mob,” he said.

The spokesman continued: “So called representatives of these republican troublemakers from as far away as Dunloy and Rasharkin found it in their best interest to turn away and ignore these actions so as not to have to witness the despicable actions of their community and then they feel it as their duty to tarnish the splendid spectacle of the Ballykeel parade.

“Even stooping to the low levels of stating that derogatory things were chanted about Michael McIlveen, who was killed four years ago, completely untrue and disgusting lies,” said the spokesman who added that nothing would be allowed to “distract the Ballymena Parades and Bands forum and their member bands from the good work which has been achieved over the past years”.

“Nationalist representatives have aired their views previously at meetings with the forum and their concerns have been remedied, but unlawful scenes such as this past weekend’s need to be rigorously followed up by the police service,” he said.

“Purely sectarian hatred against the protestant people enjoying their culture and celebrating it. Is this what Sinn Fein promote in this community or is our local representatives out of step with their party policy?

“Up to 10,000 spectators enjoyed the colour and pageantry of what has been called the best parade ever to be organised in the area.

“The blistering heat had crowds standing from early evening time to see the bands leave Wakehurst at eight o’clock,” said the spokesman who refuted those who labelled William Street a nationalist area.

“As the publicans of this area state themselves, it is a mixed area of the town,” he said.