Dear Editor,
I write in reply to your article entitled: “No deal in Dunloy for parades now or in the future’ in the Times last week. I believe that your anonymous ‘source’ quoted in the article only goes to demonstrate their own intolerance and discontent towards the Protestant community in Dunloy. They represent a very sad person who just doesn’t want a Protestant about the place.
I would like to remind your ‘source’ that Protestants are the people who have been under constant attack in Dunloy since the 1970s, they are the true victims in all of this. In 1986 the Orange Hall was destroyed in a fire and since then the local Protestant Community has been under attack through verbal abuse or violent attacks on the hall, as well as on their homes. Does your ‘source’ feel that this is justified? Last year, as in previous years, members of the Loyal Orders, of which I am a member of myself, received abuse as we stood at the front of our hall is about time that some people shed their sectarianism and embraced the principles of inclusivity, tolerance and respect. The Orange Hall has been in the town of Dunloy since 1896 . It represents our culture, our tradition and a part of our way of life of which we are very proud of.
Your ‘source’ obviously doesn’t believe in a ‘shared future’. I am sorry to disappoint your ‘source’ but Protestants are here, and are here to stay.
However we have a new way forward and I think that your ‘source’ ruling out the Loyal Orders ever returning to the streets of Dunloy is said in haste and very intolerant as we try to move our society forward.
Yours etc,
Cllr John Finlay
Ballymoney Borough Council
