Parachute Regiment flags banned from sale at Apprentice Boys parade

The sale of Parachute Regiment flags is now banned from the Apprentice Boys' Derry parade in August following a controversy last year.

Derry city and Strabane District Council voted to ban the flags at a recent meeting as part of the adoption of new criteria for the licensing of stalls.

The new criteria seeks to address the display and sale of a range of 'inappropriate' items including merchandise that promotes, supports, or glorifies hate crimes or breaches the council's section 75 responsibility to promote good relations.

The council says the criteria has been successfully applied to a number of events to date and temporary street licences will not be granted for the display, sale or supply of items that promote, support or glorify proscribed organisations.

A report presented to the Derry and Strabane District Council acknowledged that, while not illegal, there are 'particular sensitivities' associated with the Regiment that make the sale of associated items inappropriate in the city.

Sinn Féin Councillor Caitlin Deeney brought the motion. She said the sale of the flags could cause issues in the area.

“We all know that this is a highly sensitive issue, particularly in our city and can cause issues in our communities and I just think as a council this year we need to be able to actively ensure that these items are not being sold,” she said.

SDLP Councillor Catherine McDaid seconded the motion, saying it was right for the council to 'take a stand' on the issue.

Alderman Darren Guy, who is a member of the Apprentice Boys, took issue with some aspects of the criteria.

“We now have a list of proscribed organisations, which is actually quite light but I'm told this is the prescribed organisation list that is handed out when somebody asks for it. I think there should be more on it and this is where there are grey areas where someone could bring something and sell it and say 'well it wasn't on the list so surely I'm doing nothing wrong',” the UUP alderman said.

“What offends one person doesn't offend another and that's when we get into the whole grey situation.”

However, Ald Guy went on to say he would like to see individuals added to the banned items.

“There are cases where items with an individual person are being sold in this area such as Michael Stone who is not linked to any paramilitary organisation, classed himself as a freelance paramilitary.

“When you see a Bobby Sands thing, it doesn't mention anything about the IRA but it would be offensive to my community just the way Michael Stone would be offensive to any right thinking person.”

Despite his issues with the criteria, Ald Guy said he 'welcomed that we've moved forward a bit with it'.

Independent Councillor Gary Donnelly also gave a dissenting view.

“There are groups on this list like Saor Éire, The IPLO, who don't exist and haven't in decades. My problem with the report is that those who are making the rules are calling the shots on who is acceptable and who is not acceptable,” he said.

“For me if we were going to do a list we'd be here all night. I'd like to see the RUC and the B-Specials [on the list]. There's other people who would have Frosty the Snowman on the list because somebody who painted him on the window ended up in prison and a very lengthy duration out on bail with stringent bail conditions.

“I don't think this is the way forward. I won't be voting for it. I think what we need, I actually think at that meeting with the apprentice boys a lot was said and I think that's the way forward, not by picking something and putting it on to paper.”

Cllr Donelly and ald Darren Guy abstained from the vote, which passed with the support of all other councillors at the Health and Community meeting.