Call for Unionist unity

Speaking at the Flagship Twelfth in Portrush, the Deputy County Grand Master, said the parties in-fighting had caused apathy among Unionist voters.

He said: “ An approach which should be considered, would be for the parties to reach a concensus or form a coalition in a bid to work more closely for the betterment of the whole unionist community, a community which is suffering considerably because of this lack of partnership, in local government, Stormont and Westminister.

“Apathy among the unionist electorate has come about because people are fed up with the constant fighting amongst our politicians. There has been a breakdown in trust between the unionist electorate and our politicians.

“They must work harder to regain the trust of the unionist electorate and this will help to rebuild their confidence in our politicians.

“When Unionists openly fight with each other the only winners are those who seek to undermine and destroy what we in the unionist community have fought hard to hold on to, our rightful place within the United Kingdom. Let us not forget ‘United we stand divided we fall’.

Speaking of the security situation Mr Duddy said there was still a real terrorist threat.

“Dissident republicans are very active and they are continuing to carry out their murderous campaign. Also there are those within the community who continue to destroy and damage our Orange Halls.

“This is a direct attack on and shows a complete lack of tolerance for our culture and tradition.”

He was also critical of Lord Saville’s Bloody Sunday inquiry.

“Costing 195 million this enquiry has only led to a hierarchy of victims which is morally wrong. For example, the families of the victims of the Claudy, Warrenpoint and Enniskillen bombings but to name a few of the many atrocities will not receive the same level of investigation.

“ Surely these families also deserve a public enquiry into the deaths of their loved ones. As Lord Tebitt stated recently “They have a right to know who exactly within Sinn Fein/IRA were responsible for the murders”.

“If we want public enquiries into such atrocities we must show the same tenacity as those who campaigned for the Bloody Sunday enquiry to achieve the same goal.”

Concluding his speech, he said: “I would especially like to thank Coleraine No.2 District for asking me here today, and for working so hard to make this day so successful. I would thank the County Grand Officers for their continued support to our County Grand Lodge.

“To each member and to all who are gathered here today that you may know God’s blessing. I bring you the fraternal greetings of County Londonderry Grand Orange Lodge, and my own private Lodge Blaugh Sons of Ulster LOL 256.”