Stewart Dickson MLA said: “This parade will be a setback for community relations. While people are entitled to parade and commemorate their history, it is wrong to glorify terrorism. This is insensitive to the victims of terrorism and their families.
“I am angered by the continued claims of Sinn Fein that this parade is acceptable because of the perceived identity of the local population.
“All areas should be viewed as shared spaces. We cannot let a situation develop where greater sensitivity only needs to be shown in certain areas, while in other areas certain behaviours are seen as acceptable due to the perceived identity of the local community.
“This parade has again highlighted the unresolved issues relating to the legacy of the past. It is vitally important that we achieve a positive outcome in the upcoming Richard Haass led talks on the past and the other shared future issues it will discuss.”
ENDS