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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Villiers 'unable to ban Castlederg republican parade' | Villiers 'unable to ban Castlederg republican parade' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Secretary of State Theresa Villiers has urged the organisers of a republican parade in County Tyrone to call it off, but said she is unable to ban it. | Secretary of State Theresa Villiers has urged the organisers of a republican parade in County Tyrone to call it off, but said she is unable to ban it. |
| Ms Villiers was speaking after meeting with a victims' group opposed to the parade in Castlederg on Sunday. | Ms Villiers was speaking after meeting with a victims' group opposed to the parade in Castlederg on Sunday. |
| "On the issue of legal powers to ban the parade, these are restricted and narrowly defined," Ms Villiers said. | "On the issue of legal powers to ban the parade, these are restricted and narrowly defined," Ms Villiers said. |
| "The criteria set out in legislation that would enable me to intervene are not satisfied in this case." | "The criteria set out in legislation that would enable me to intervene are not satisfied in this case." |
| She added: "I realise that will disappoint many but I am bound by the law. | She added: "I realise that will disappoint many but I am bound by the law. |
| "That in no way diminishes my profound sympathy for the victims. I heard harrowing stories today from people who continue to grieve for loved ones and who have never received justice." | "That in no way diminishes my profound sympathy for the victims. I heard harrowing stories today from people who continue to grieve for loved ones and who have never received justice." |
| Ms Villiers said the Tyrone Volunteers Day Parade, which commemorates dead IRA members, was "deeply insensitive" and was causing great distress to many victims of terrorism. | Ms Villiers said the Tyrone Volunteers Day Parade, which commemorates dead IRA members, was "deeply insensitive" and was causing great distress to many victims of terrorism. |
| "This parade is damaging to community relations and even at this late stage I would call upon the organisers to think again and call it off." | "This parade is damaging to community relations and even at this late stage I would call upon the organisers to think again and call it off." |
| 'Duplicity' | 'Duplicity' |
| The Derg Valley Victims Voice was accompanied by unionist politicians during the meeting. | The Derg Valley Victims Voice was accompanied by unionist politicians during the meeting. |
| They had called on the secretary of state to ban the parade or at least condemn it. | They had called on the secretary of state to ban the parade or at least condemn it. |
| They say it will glorify terrorism and traumatise families affected by IRA violence. | They say it will glorify terrorism and traumatise families affected by IRA violence. |
| DUP MLA Arlene Foster, who was at the meeting, said Sunday would see Sinn Fein duplicity reach a staggering level. | DUP MLA Arlene Foster, who was at the meeting, said Sunday would see Sinn Fein duplicity reach a staggering level. |
| "On Sunday, Sinn Fein in Omagh will stand against the actions of terrorists where 29 innocent people were murdered by a car bomb, yet a few miles down the road in Castlederg the same Sinn Fein MLAs will hold a parade to honour Provisional IRA car bombers," she said. | "On Sunday, Sinn Fein in Omagh will stand against the actions of terrorists where 29 innocent people were murdered by a car bomb, yet a few miles down the road in Castlederg the same Sinn Fein MLAs will hold a parade to honour Provisional IRA car bombers," she said. |
| "Could someone in Connolly House explain the difference between the terrorists who murdered in Castlederg and the terrorists who murdered in Omagh? | "Could someone in Connolly House explain the difference between the terrorists who murdered in Castlederg and the terrorists who murdered in Omagh? |
| "The parade is damaging to community relations and grossly offensive to the families of the 29 people who were murdered by the PIRA in the Castlederg area." | "The parade is damaging to community relations and grossly offensive to the families of the 29 people who were murdered by the PIRA in the Castlederg area." |
| Sinn Féin's Barry McElduff said Ms Villiers should stay out of parading issues. | |
| "Ms Villiers has outlined her partisan objections and further endorsed the view that there are a hierarchy of victims when it comes to the conflict in Ireland," he said. | |
| "Sinn Féin believe that there can be no hierarchy of victims and that we all should have the opportunity to remember our dead." | |
| The Parades Commission has re-routed the parade away from the town's war memorial, but did not ban it. | The Parades Commission has re-routed the parade away from the town's war memorial, but did not ban it. |