Loyalists mock death of Pope Francis at Apprentice Boys parade attended by senior DUP figures
Onlookers sing and dance ‘No Pope of Rome’ anthem blasted out by loyalist band
The death of Pope Francis has been mocked by loyalists during an Apprentice Boys parade in Lisburn attended by DUP Stormont minister Paul Givan and other party elected representatives.
Footage from the annual Easter parade on Monday shows a loyalist band playing ‘No Pope of Rome’.
Several DUP members posted photos of the Easter event on social media, although there is no suggestion they were present when the tune was played.
The offensive song that mocks the Catholic faith was played just hours after the Pontiff died.
It includes the words “No, no Pope of Rome, no chapels to sadden my eyes, no nuns and no priests, no Rosary beads, every day is the Twelfth of July”.
It also includes the lines “oh give me a home where there’s no Pope of Rome, where there’s nothing but Protestants stay, where seldom is heard a discouraging word and flute bands play The Sash every day”.
Dozens of onlookers appear to be singing along with the band and dancing on the street just a short distance from where a loyalist threat was recently issued to the residents of a mixed housing estate.
It has been reported that leaflets claiming to be from the UFF were put through letter boxes in the mixed Altona Drive and Altona Gardens districts warning that if residents remove unionist flags recently placed on lampposts they “will be dealt with”.
Up to 50 bands and 6,000 participants were expected at the annual Apprentice Boys parade on Monday.
Those in attendance during the day included several high-profile DUP members.
Stormont education minister Paul Givan, who is an assembly member for the Lagan Valley area and his party colleagues, former minister Edwin Poots and MLA Jonathan Buckley attended.
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart was also present.
She and Mr Givan later posted similarly worded social media messages describing the atmosphere in Lisburn as “first class” while Mr Poots wrote of “super crowds and a great atmosphere”.
Lisburn and Castlereagh City councillor James Tinsley, who works for Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, also attended.
Posting on social media Ms Little-Pengelly later said “Pope Francis was held in high regard and admiration by so many”.
DUP party leader Gavin Robinson extended “respectful sympathies to all those grieving his passing”.
Lagan Valley Alliance assembly member David Honeyford said: “It’s really disappointing to hear of this provocative and insensitive behaviour yesterday.
“This would have been disrespectful at anytime, but is especially on the day of the Pope’s passing.
“Those involved are not representative of the vast majority of people out on Monday, on what should have been a good day for Lisburn and the wider area.”
The DUP, Apprentice Boys and PSNI have been contacted.
by vague_intentionally_
30 comments
Literally don’t react.
Not even reacting to this is the highest form of “Grow the fuck up you fragile Unionists”
Legislation should be enacted to ban parades. Not surprised that DUP bigots are present at this as well.
Just bring up that the Queen is dead, and that she covered for her paedo son. Then sit back and watch them go apeshit.
How did some Republicans react to the Queen dying again?
Glass houses….
Grown adults being this desperate for attention is something else. Positive, negative, doesn’t matter as long as they get it and on the underlying crisis of confidence in unionism rumbles on.
I swear this lot think of the Pope’s death more than most nationalists do
Aye fuck it sure, don’t expect much from loyalists.
They’re a dead and dieng group of people as well who we will all mock when they’re in the ground so let’s them have their chance while it lasts.
Such a shock, they’re always so classy
Would you expect anything else, they are not worth it. I don’t know why newspaper or tv stations bother asking for a comment.
Is anyone remotely surprised?
The same people clutching pearls about this are often the same people who don’t mind maggie or lizzie in a box.
The same people chanting here likely are the same people who get upset at the above Maggie or lizzy chants
Both sets of folks need to fuck off. If you are commenting on this yet are knowingly a massive hypocrite, kindly fuck off and try going outside.
Some things are inevitable in this place and nothings ever going to change
The penny still hasn’t dropped that it is the undecideds who will determine the outcome of a border poll.
This just adds another vote for UI. Playing into the adds of the nationalists.
Frankie’s in a box
Maggie’s’ in a box
Lizzie’s in a box
Yes, they’re all absurd gestures.
Of course they did. Shower of sad cunts. Dying throes of a lost people. The English who know about them find them embarrassing.
Not defending them but the same was done when the queen died just gose in circles
Eh, they’ll just choose a new Pope…….so……..
Cue the outrage from the Kneecap fans and the “Lizzie’s in the box” crowd.
Performative morality on show.
I’m ceaselessly amazed by the human propensity for inhumanity
Im someone who comes from a Unionist background and thats more than pathetic hearing about that. Reminds me of the same lowlifes who made comments about Michaela McAreavey a few years ago.
Pig and grunts etc
I’m constantly in love with the idea that Loyalists think we’re all Vatican sleeper agents waiting for the word to overthrow King Billy.
Nobody cares about the Pope as much as Loyalists do.
Is anyone really surprised? The dregs of society congregate at these sectarian hatefests masquerading under the guise of “culture”. The band scene is little more than an unregulated vehicle for Loyalist bigots to openly express their inherent sectarianism without any risk of sanction.
Lol not even surprised
Queen or the pope if you think either give a ballix about anyone on this island I don’t think you should be let out without supervision 🤣🤣
cunts
Fair bit of pearl clutching from the “Lizzie’s in a box” brigade…
Classy as ever. Anyone else get the feeling that loyalists are locked in battle with a long gone enemy?
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