https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/large-loyalist-flute-band-demonstration-held-to-commemorate-miami-showband-bomber-wesley-somerville-M4AZEAPKVBHCJEW4YHQKNCUZU4/

Victims campaigner hits out as hundreds attend commemoration of Miami Showband bomber Wesley Somerville

UVF wreathes paraded through Co Tyrone village to mark 50th anniversary of Glenanne Gang member’s death in 1975 bomb attack

A victims campaigner has hit out as hundreds attended a commemoration parade marking the 50th anniversary of the death of a member of the Glenanne gang.

Hundreds of people turned out for a large loyalist flute band demonstration in Co Tyrone on Saturday evening to commemorate Wesley Somerville, a UVF man linked to the Miami Showband massacre.

The parade took place in Moygashel and featured images of Somerville, believed to have been a member of the Glenanne Gang which was responsible for the murders of more than 100 people during the Troubles.

A Parades Commission application under the name ‘Moygashel Memorial Parade’, applied for up to 30 bands to take part in the Saturday night demonstration.

Some bands carried wreaths with UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force) written on them, while the PSNI were in attendance during the parade.

The event took place to mark the 50th anniversary of Somerville’s death.

Leading loyalist Somerville, who was also a member of the UDR, died when his own bomb exploded as he attempted to murder members of the Miami Showband in July 1975.

Three band members also lost their lives when the minibus they were travelling on was stopped at a bogus UDR checkpoint near Banbridge, Co Down, almost 50 years ago.

Kenny Donaldson of victims group the South East Fermanagh Foundation called on anyone connected to the parade to consider their actions.

“We acknowledge the families of Wesley Somerville and Haris Boyle will grieve their loved one, just as is the case with republicans who knew them beyond their involvement in terrorism,” Mr Donaldson said.

“However there is no place for the eulogising of them as being devout sons of Ulster, to plot and to seek to murder others does not demonstrate loyalty to anything, beyond a warped ideology for which they subscribed.

“We ask those connecting themselves with this event to consider their actions, upon the Miami showband bereaved families, survivors but also innocent victims/survivors across Mid Ulster and beyond.

“And if amongst those who glorify Mr Somerville and Mr Boyle are people who speak out against republican terror, hold your tongues in future because to spout again on these issues renders you hypocrites.

“All premeditated acts of violence and terror were/are wrong and are wholly unjustified”.

In a statement, the Lt Wesley Somerville Memorial Committee, said the event was a “commeration of Mr Somerville’s life, not a glorification of the conflict.”

It said: “The commemorative event is a dignified gathering, remembering a young man who felt compelled- when faced with the siege of an IRA terrorist campaign- to take steps to defend his community and his country. It is regrettable that any young man was ever put in that situation, but the responsibility for such circumstances lies firmly and squarely with the IRA.

“This event was a commemoration of Mr Somerville’s life, not a glorification of the conflict, unlike the continuous events held by Sinn Fein and republican surrogate groups who glorify the actions of IRA terrorists.

“Those who vote for, represent or endorse Sinn Fein have no moral credibility on such issues.”

by vague_intentionally_

23 comments

  1. Barely a word about on this on bbc or Nolan (which is no surprise) about unionists celebrating collusion and murder.

  2. Holy fuck. The absolute lack of self awareness is nearly as awful as the hypocrisy. Fuck this cunts and anything to do with them.

  4. >a young man who felt compelled- when faced with the siege of an IRA terrorist campaign- to take steps to defend his community and his country

    The mental fucking gymnastics required to justify bombing a band is incredible.

    They ambushed and tried to bomb civilians, wasn’t the idea to blame it on the IRA only he was dumb enough to blow himself up in the process?

  6. Kenny Donaldson was big pals with Willie Fraser, someone up to his neck in Loyalist terrorism and extremism.

  7. In fairness, not even people from Moygashel will admit to being from there.

    Such a grim place, one of those places unfortunately is beyond repair.

  8. Most people don’t give a fuck about this nonsense either way

    It’s the hardliners on both sides which drags the middle ground into bullshit tit for tat parading and salt rubbing 

  9. Time to look into the Parades Commission. How this got through the process is questionable to say the least.

    If these were IRA banners the PSNI would be on them like flies on shite too. A few doors in Moygadishu sorry Moygashel should be getting the big red door knocker soon. I fully expect the PSNI to ignore this like they do for most of this shite when it comes from Loyalists though.

  12. Every person who attended this farce or any event like it should hang their heads in shame.

    Absolutely disgraceful the parades commission lets such events go forward.

    A reporter should go around these kind of events asking the onlookers why they’ve attended, just to highlight the absurdity of it all as I doubt any of them could muster a defence or reason that wasn’t laughable and ridiculous.

  13. Vile propaganda. Awaiting ringing denunciations in Dáil Eireann from FFG of unionist terrorism.

    Was that a tumbleweed?

  14. Nothing changes. They put up a banner for him about 10 years ago. PSNI did nothing about it despite opposition. Instead they arrested the man who ripped the banner down.

    Just shows how completely hateful these loyalists are. The guy was blown to swiss cheese after attacking not IRA members, not Irish politicians but catholic civilians. Just like 90% of Loyalist killings.

  15. “Some bands carried wreaths with UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force) written on them, while the PSNI were in attendance during the parade.”

    I bet

  16. They were scum dirty killing animals nothing more nothing less shame on anyone celebrating this ewwwwww gross sick minds out there folks

  18. The excuses in their statement are just grim.

    *“The commemorative event is a dignified gathering, remembering a young man who felt compelled- when faced with the siege of an IRA terrorist campaign- to take steps to defend his community and his country. It is regrettable that any young man was ever put in that situation, but the responsibility for such circumstances lies firmly and squarely with the IRA.*

    *“This event was a commemoration of Mr Somerville’s life, not a glorification of the conflict, unlike the continuous events held by Sinn Fein and republican surrogate groups who glorify the actions of IRA terrorists.*

    *“Those who vote for, represent or endorse Sinn Fein have no moral credibility on such issues.”*

    And, of course, you don’t need to imagine SF saying exactly the same thing about some provo who put bombs in pubs. Or any of a wide variety of MPs saying something similar about the soldiers from Bloody Sunday.

    They’re all as bad as each other. And should all just eff right off.

  20. Where are all the SF supporters who argue that everyone has the right to remember?

  21. Moygashel! Its a strange strange place. Like a last loyalist outpost enclave stuck in a time warp. A truly depressing place to drive through.

  22. As a unionist I found the double standards on this appalling. A terrorist was a terrorist.

  23. Double standards from this sub again what a shocker. Look at the outrage for this commemoration but when it’s their side doing it there’s nothing. Why is it so hard for people to call both sides out for commemorating these monsters.

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