Fears are rife that dissidents will lodge protest near parade

Recent events in the city, including clashes at interface flashpoints, an attack on the statue of Siege hero Governor George Walker at the home of the Apprentice Boys and of course last weeks 200lb car bomb explosion at the city's main police station have led to grave concerns that dissidents are planning to cause serious disturbances this weekend.

In recent months regular Saturday afternoon 'white line' protests by the 32 County Sovereignty Movement (32CSM), the political wing of the Real IRA, have been moved from the Bogside area to Shipquay Street in the heart of the city centre. Shipquay Street leads to the city's Diamond, the hub of the annual Apprentice Boys parade.

The Saturday afternoon 32CSM protests against what the organisation term the "inhuman conditions endured by Republican POW's" at Magheraberry jail, take place at 2pm each week and this time would coincide with the bulk of the Apprentice Boys parade moving through Londonderry city centre.

Asked by the Londonderry Sentinel if they planned to proceed with a similar protest on Saturday, August 14, a spokesman for the 32CSM replied: "These protests have been a regular occurrence on Saturday afternoons in Derry City for the past few years.

"A few months back due to the deteriorating conditions in Magheraberry prison and increasing brutality and torture directed at Republican POW's, we decided to hold the protests on a weekly basis.

"No other events or activities organised by any other body will be a factor or an obstacle in our ongoing campaign to highlight the inhuman conditions endured by Republican POW's."

Concerns are also rife that potential troublemakers will be shipped in from Belfast to bulk up dissident numbers, in a reciprocal move that saw dissident sympathisers travel from Londonderry and other areas of Northern Ireland to Ardoyne on July 12 where several days of serious unrest followed.

In a separate development it emerged last week that a teenager accused of rioting at Ardoyne handed himself over to the PSNI after his father saw his photograph in a newspaper. Although from another part of Belfast it appears the youngster travelled to Ardoyne to take part in the disturbances. He has been charged with riotous assembly. He was released on strict bail conditions one of which prohibits him from 'entering the city of Londonderry'.

Speaker of the Assembly, DUP MLA William Hay speaking on the current situation in Londonderry said: "Having spoken to security analysts and senior police officers in recent months they too believe there has been a deliberate heightening of tensions and an increase in dissident activity."