The South Fermanagh Red Hand Defenders lead the parade through Enniskillen
FRIDAY night’s loyalist band parade through Enniskillen town centre has been labelled a ‘disgrace’ and damaging to business on a busy pay day weekend.
Speaking to the Herald local Sinn Fein MLA Phil Flanagan vented his frustrations. He was in Enniskillen on the night of the parade said there were more police than spectators.
“I think everyone cleared the town before it started. As I was leaving Enniskillen about 30 people were waiting for the parade to arrive and there were as many police officers securing the area.”
Mr Flanagan believes these parades are doing serious damage to the nightlife in Enniskillen. “They are taking over a whole town with aggressive loyalist bands trying to intimidate people.” He also expressed concern regarding the amount of parades now on the calendar and the increasing length of the marching season.
“How long does the marching season go on? It seems every week or two there is a parade. I think there are up on 20 parades every year in Enniskillen. This shows a serious level of insecurity within their constitutional position.
“I understand parading on the 12th July to commemorate the Battle of the Boyne a few hundred years ago but I don’t understand the need to have so many parades. Is their sole purpose just to antagonise and anger people? Why do they need to be parading at the end of September?”
When informed the parade was to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the South Fermanagh Loyalist flute band, Mr Flanagan questioned why organisers felt the need to close off a town.
“Could they not have organised a dinner or a dance like normal people? Enniskillen is a shared town and they don’t own it. It is a disgrace that at the whim of a very small amount of people Enniskillen was closed down for the night on a busy pay day weekend.
“Pubs and restaurants are getting it difficult enough and this further damages their trade. It is tough enough to get the evening economy going without these parades. The sheer volume has to be considered. Most people would say there are too many parades, especially in Enniskillen, but yet it is increasing every year.”
UUP MLA Tom Elliott defended the parade and explained it has been held in Enniskillen at the end of September every year for a considerable period of time.
“I have attended that parade on numerous occasions and it has been going on for years. I have never seen any difficulties.
“It is held at night so it doesn’t affect the retail business in the middle of the town, I have never before heard any complaints.”
In response to claims it may damage the evening trade in the town, Tom reflected on experience.
“I have seen people going in and out of restaurants and pubs it certainly doesn’t seem to bother them or vice versa. I don’t really know what this criticism is all about, I don’t complain when there is a GAA match on.”
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