Councillor urges for calm ahead of contentious Loyalist march

A locally elected representative has urged for calm in Newtownbutler ahead a contentious loyalist march on Thursday. Sinn Fein councillor Thomas O'Reilly has called for "respect" from both sides when over 20 loyalist bands are due to arrive in the Fermanagh border-village for their annual march. Cllr O'Reilly made the comments in reaction to news that there had been a call from a group purporting to represent nationalist residents of Newtownbutler to stage a protest to "make clear our total and resolute opposition to any proposed Loyalist march". "It is our belief that these marches are being planned by various loyalist organisations responsible solely to raise tensions and promote triumphalist and sectarian attitudes", the statement from the group calling itself the Newtownbutler Area Residents Coalition (NARC) said. While both the established Newtownbutler Area Residents Association and the NARC share similar view points that no parade should take place in the village, Cllr O'Reilly stated that to his knowledge the NARC "do not represent anyone from the area" nor does he know anyone living locally associated with the organisation. He considered that the NARC's calls for the "nationalist community of Ireland to please come and support us" was in itself potentially inflammatory. "We have spoken to the Border Defenders and the Orange Order telling them that we do not what the parade here," Cllr O'Reilly. "That matter is now with the Parades Commission and we are awaiting a ruling on that. "We work very hard here in Newtownbutler with people from across the community through a number of initiatives which have been very successful and we are continuing that work through peaceful means."