DUP MLAs present as loyalist band plays anti-Catholic anthems on day Pope Francis died

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‘No Pope of Rome’ and ‘Billy Boys’ blasted out during Apprentice Boys parade

By Connla Young, Crime and Security Correspondent
May 01, 2025 at 6:00am BST

Footage has emerged of three senior DUP members looking on as a loyalist band played anti-Catholic anthems during an Apprentice Boys parade on the same day Pope Francis died.

Stormont education minister Paul Givan, Edwin Poots, who is the assembly speaker, and MLA Jonathan Buckley were present when a band blasted out the offensive No Pope of Rome and the Billy Boys tunes.

The footage was captured close to Lisburn Orange Hall on Easter Monday – hours after Pope Francis died in Rome.

Onlookers can be heard singing the sectarian lyrics of both songs as a loyalist band member performs cartwheels along a street lined with spectators.

There was controversy last week after it emerged DUP representatives were in attendance at the annual Apprentice Boys parade during which a different band played No Pope of Rome.

The DUP later condemned what they termed the “distasteful actions” of those involved.

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart, who was also present in Lisburn, and Mr Givan later described the atmosphere in the city as “first class”, while Mr Poots, a former Stormont minister, 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.

The No Pope of Rome song, which mocks the Catholic faith, is regularly played at unionist gatherings.

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”.

Another loyalist favourite, the Billy Boys, which includes the line “we’re up to our knees in Fenian blood’, was also played close to the Orange hall.

The song is historically linked to Glasgow-based loyalist Billy Fullerton, who went on to join Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists and established a branch of the Ku Klux Klan in his native city.

There is no suggestion any of the DUP elected representatives took part in the sectarian singing.

David Honeyford, Lagan Valley Alliance MLA, said the “DUP leadership needs to urgently look into the attendance of senior representatives at this parade” adding that the event was ”marred by sectarian songs being played in the wake of the death of Pope Francis".

“The footage compounds the hurt and pain already caused by those deeply offensive actions,” he said.

“Many people came out in the wake of this parade to rightly condemn the scenes but we need to also hear from the DUP MLAs – Edwin Poots, Jonathan Buckley and Paul Givan – pictured standing there while No Pope in Rome and the Billy Boys were played.

“This parade took place over a week ago, giving them ample time to clarify their attendance and condemn the songs, and yet there has been silence from them on it.”

Mr Honeyford said the actions of those responsible have a wider impact.

“It may only be a minority of people playing these tunes but those actions can give everyone there – including the DUP representatives – a bad name as they listen on to songs based around such blatant hate," he said.

“As DUP leader, Gavin Robinson has a duty to investigate this situation and his party’s actions.”

The footage emerged days after Mr Robinson criticised republican rap group Kneecap over allegations they called for the death of Tory MPs during a concert in 2023.

Police in England are also investigating claims members of the band shouted “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” at a gig last year.

Mr Robinson said on X that “promoting sectarianism, glorifying violence and spreading division under the guise of “art” is still hate.

“Kneecap need to be investigated for their hate crimes.

“If anyone else did this, they’d be in a courtroom, not a stage.”

The DUP was asked if their elected representatives condemn the playing of the No Pope of Rome and Billy Boys tunes and if they or Gavin Robinson, believe the playing of such music is a hate crime.

In response, a spokesperson reissued the party’s statement made last week saying the Apprentice Boys “should be commended for their parade in Lisburn on Easter Monday”, adding: “The distasteful actions by a few should not taint the entire event nor everyone there. We urge people to be respectful of their neighbour’s grief.”

The PSNI was also asked if it is treating the matter as hate crime or hate incident.

“Following the review of a video circulating online in relation to a parade which took place in Lisburn on 21st April, no offences have been identified,” a spokesman said.

“At this time, police have not received any reports in relation to a parade which took place in Lisburn on 21st April.”