'Ignore protest'

Amid fears that dissidents have been orchestrating sectarian disturbances in the weeks leading up to the parade, Foyle MLA William Hay said concerns are growing that a protest will take place close to the parade route on Saturday, following the breakdown of talks aimed at resolving a dispute involving dissident republican prisoners in Maghaberry jail.

But Mr Hay said: "If the parade is left alone, it will pass off peacefully, no doubt about it. Quite a bit of work has gone into this parade over many years, and it would be totally wrong for anyone to use any excuse to cause trouble for the parade, the spectators or the traders of this city.

"My appeal to people taking part in the parade or watching it, is to ignore any protest and just move on. All of us have a responsibility to do what we can to reduce tensions."

Following an escalation of interface violence, including a recent petrol bomb attack on the home of an elderly couple in Irish Street, it emerged yesterday that a pensioner living on the interface has booked herself into a residential care home for a week in case there are further sectarian attacks on homes in the area over the next few days.

Appealing for calm, UUP Alderman Mary Hamilton said the elderly woman felt too unsafe to remain at home at the moment because of fears of more attacks on Protestant homes.

The woman who is her 80s, and who does not wish to be identified, lives close to the interface area at Irish Street/Gobnascale.

Mrs Hamilton said: "This lady lives alone and is so scared she has decided to leave her home for the next few days and has moved into a residential care home at her own expense.

"This is supposed to be our City of Culture and I am urging people to stop and think before becoming involved in or causing any trouble."

Meanwhile Apprentice Boys' leaders are urging people to make full use of the city centre's shopping facilities, but challenged traders to "do more" to encourage the 10,000 visitors at the Relief of Derry celebrations every year to cross Craigavon Bridge.

Calling on businesses to stay open during Saturday's parade, the organisation's General Secretary, Billy Moore said he hoped this weekend's event would be "peaceful" for everyone and "profitable for city centre businesses".

Mr Moore told the Sentinel that the parade was one of the most colourful spectacles in Northern Ireland, "if not the UK".

He added: "There will be 10,000 visitors and we hope traders can make the most of that. Maybe that's something traders can do - do more to attract people to come and shop in the cityside and we would be happy to co-operate with the traders and work with them to encourage visitors to the city to take advantage of the shopping facilities. We can't do it on our own, but we would work with the traders to help them make the most of it.

"We want the traders to remain open, and want everyone to enjoy a good, peaceful and prosperous day."

Mr Moore added that the parade - which should see around 130 bands accompany the Apprentice Boys around the city - was "part of our history", adding: "We would like to think it's part of our shared history as well."

His comments were echoed by Mr Hay, who added: "Collectively, more can be done by the traders. It's a unique opportunity and I think traders might be missing out."

Saturday's events get underway with the opening of General Committee at 9am, followed by the parade onto the walls at 9.30pm. The Service in St Columb's Cathedral will start at 10.30pm. The Crimson Players' Relief of Derry pageant will begin at 12 noon, on the Carlisle Road side of Craigavon Bridge, and the main parade - announced by a fireworks display on the River Foyle - will get underway at 12.30pm.