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Ban on loyalist flute band participating in Rasharkin parade

A loyalist flute band has been banned from taking part in a parade through the County Antrim village of Rasharkin on Friday night.

Over 20 bands are set to take part in the parade organised by the Ballymaconnelly Sons of Conquerors flute band.

The parades watchdog’s decision to ban the Dervock Young Flute Band was due to provocative behaviour during a Twelfth parade in Ballycastle.

Video footage captured one band member appearing to spit at a protestor, while others were pictured wearing masks.

Local independent councillor Padraig McShane was arrested as tensions spilled over in the town.

Just over a week later the band’s bus was destroyed in a fire in what police are treating as a hate crime.

Daithí McKay, Sinn Féin MLA for North Antrim, said the Parades Commission’s decision is “entirely justified”.

“We have seen the behaviour of this band in Ballycastle a number of weeks ago, it was outrageous, it is there for all to see on video and on the internet and I think the Parades Commission made the right decision to ensure there was no risk of a repeat of that behaviour again in Rasharkin.”

– Daithí McKay, Sinn Féin

However TUV leader and local MLA Jim Allister has said the ban is “outrageous”.

“The only person arrested was a republican councillor,” he said.

There were no police arrests of any members of this band and yet due process has been set aside and the Parades Commission has decided they will be judge and jury about this issue and penalise a band who have paraded for many years in Rasharkin totally without incident.

– Jim Allister, TUV

Dervock Young Defenders have said in a statement they are seeking to challenge the ban.