‘Shock’ as Parades Commission ‘declines’ application for socially distanced parade of six people

Broughshane man Craig Sloan and his father David hoped to parade with a few Lambeg drums. Craig had applied to hold a minimal parade of six people in Broughshane on July 13 which would observe social distancing.

On Monday Craig Sloan lodged the application for a parade with six participants and two traffic marshals, in the name of Broughshane Drumming Club.

“We made it very clear othat it was going to be a socially distanced parade in Broughshane on July 13,” he said.

“But then on Tuesday the commission phoned and said they weren’t processing any applications and asked if I could withdraw it. I was just shocked.”

When he protested, he says, he was told that his form was ‘just going to sit there because we are not going to process it’.

“So I said: ‘Well if you withdraw it on my behalf what can I do?’ They did not give me any alternative.”

TUV leader Jim Allister commented that the commission “has no function or role in enforcing the Coronavirus Regulations”.

He added: “Instead of issuing a determination it has demanded he withdraw the application. In this I believe they have overreached their powers and demonstrated their innate aversion to all things loyalist and unionist.”

The commission responded that Stormont’s emergency Coronavirus legislation, passed in March, forbids parades because, although it does not specifically mentioned them, they come under restrictions on movement and gatherings.

“The enabling announcements for the gradual increase in activity has not yet referred to parades,” it said.

The parade organiser had indicated that he was “content to withdraw his notification, pending updates to the regulations and the commission has received no further communication from him,” it said.

The Commission encourages organisers to submit applications when the regulations are updated, which will provide a clearer understanding of what public health restrictions may apply, the commission added.

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