Sinn Fein urge Orange Order to enter talks over Dungiven parade

The reflection of the members of the Orange Order in Rossnowlagh at the weekend as thousands braved the elements for the only official Orange Parade in the south of Ireland which anually comes before the 12th of July celebrations of the 1690 Battle of the Boyne .Picture Brian Mc Daid

“I would appeal to the Orange Order to show respect to the residents of Dungiven by entering into dialogue in order to resolve the issue of this local parade,” he said.

“In recent years a small parade by local Orangemen has been facilitated through the 99% Nationalist village of Dungiven but this year there has been an attempt to increase the numbers without entering into dialogue with the local residents.

“I welcomed the judicial review taken by a local resident in an attempt to limit the numbers taking part to locals only and although it failed to have the march restricted it has put down a marker that residents will not allow it to escalate into an annual contentionus parade.

“The residents of Dungiven have shown tolerance in facilitating the parade in recent years so I am calling on the Orange Order to show respect and return to a march involving local members only and to stop heightening tensions by increasing the numbers taking part this year.”