Rasharkin: PSNI parade decision 'illegal' - McKay

NORTH Antrim Sinn Féin MLA Daithí McKay has said that the "PSNI's decision to reroute a parade in Rasharkin was illegal as it was not cleared with the Parades Commission and was in direct response to a loyalist mob of thousands who were brought into the village".

Mr McKay also said that the "intimidation of Catholics living in the village by a loyalist mob should never be allowed to happen again".

Mr McKay, who lives in Rasharkin, said: "After a hoax bomb was placed at the Orange Hall the parade was delayed until well after 10 o'clock. It was nonsensical for any parade to be taking place after that time and it was also astounding that ... PSNI ... gave the go ahead for an alternative route for this parade without consulting with the Parades Commission. The question which needs to be asked of them is why did they do that and under whose direction?

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"An inappropriate number of police officers were in place to deal with thousands of loyalists who were intoxicated, threw bottles and threatened huge disorder in the village. Because they threatened major disorder the police then took the decision to force the parade through by an illegal route. They had no right to do this.

"Also because the parade took place after midnight it meant that it was spread out over two separate days. That was also illegal as the parade was only filed for the 20th August. The PSNI knew that this was the case and pushed ahead with the parade anyway.

"There were numerous displays of UDA and UVF flags at the parade and there was also criminal damage carried out by parade supporters at the southern end of the village.

"What is quite clear is that the PSNI cannot cope with a loyalist parade this size through a nationalist village like Rasharkin. Loyalists were allowed to come here in their thousands to do one thing – intimidate Catholics. It should never be allowed to happen again."

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