Ballymoney Councillor John Finlay tonight attended an emergency meeting between residents’ of Rasharkin and the Parades Commission to discuss next week’s annual band parade. John Finlay attended by chance, only hearing about it last minute.
He sought to represent the Protestants living in the area in wake of spiraling trouble in the area. John addressed the meeting amid being heckled and booed by those in attendance. He discussed how Protestants felt intimidated in the area amid growing tensions and an increase in attacks on Protestants homes and property.
John Finlay said:
“I attended the meeting to represent the views of the Protestants in the area. I told them that they live in fear of intimidation as violence and sectarian attacks have risen in the area. Attacks on Protestants homes and property have risen drastically from last year, from a total of 14 reported attacks for 2008 as a whole and 18 attacks from January to March of this year, and such attacks are ongoing. Rasharkin is quickly becoming very anti-Protestant.
The residents’ clearly do not care as I was booed and heckled by those in attendance. I conveyed a message to the Republican community in the area, and that was a message appealing for calm and peace.
Protestants do not want any trouble. They want to live and express their culture in peace. If Northern Ireland is to move forward we need respect. Respect for our culture is vital. However I am concerned that a growing number of Republicans are out to cause trouble and stir tensions amidst political fallout.
I want attacks to stop on the Protestant community. Protestants should be free to live in peace and be able to walk down the street without fear of being shouted at, or having their homes attacked.
Understanding and tolerance is needed in Rasharkin and Republicans have a choice: peace or violence. I along with my Party colleagues will continue to work to see this situation resolved and tensions defused but much work needs to be done of the side of Republicans.” said the DUP councillor.
