I am not opposed to flegs per se. There are certain areas and districts where they are harmless, in that the majority of the people don’t oppose them. We all know which are areas these are – usually staunchly Unionist towns, villages and housing estates.

However I have to question the legality around much of what goes on. In Lurgan, a town with a 62%+ nationalist majority, the town centre is plastered with flags & bunting. Loyalist flags have been in situ since the start of April. A second swathe went up a few days ago.

The flags are erected by the “South Lurgan Community Forum”; essentially a cover name for a Loyalist umbrella group consisting the town’s two UVF-aligned flute bands along with the OO, RBP, UPRG, ACT Initiative (UVF funding body) and a couple of other groups. The secretary of this organisation is David Martin, ex-UVF terrorist and member of the Orange Order (his drug-dealing nephew was recently convicted of murdering one of his former UVF colleagues). Flags bearing the insignia of Craigavon Protestant Boys, seen posing in front of a UVF/PAF mural, feature prominently towards the “Catholic” end of Lurgan. In the past this group has erected Parachute Regiment flags in order to antagonise and intimidate.

Telescopics, seemingly with number plates removed, are used in broad daylight to erect contentious flags in the town centre. Individuals, who are not police officers are seemingly allowed to obstruct the highway at will. I myself was once instructed to stop by an individual in a high vis at the top of Windsor Ave (needless to say I ignored him and continued on).

Are they allowed to tell members of the public to stop? I know erecting flags on street furniture is unlawful under Section 87 of the Roads Order (NI) 1993. It’s there in black and white, although the law is never enforced. What are the legalities surrounding a flag bearing the insignia of a flute band which patently supports a terrorist organisation? Are they allowed to use plant machinery on public roads without number plates displayed?

by Kitchen-Valuable714

19 comments

  1. It’s unfortunately just the way it is, especially this time of year

  2. Regardless of whether there is a unionist majority or not, these flags are not harmless.
    would you accept “arbeit macht frei” being displayed?

  3. Same happens in Dundrum and Omagh every year. Yet nationalists are intolerant.
    Mind blowing.

  5. Awwww fuck r/northernireland is going to be pissing their pants about his for the next 2 weeks

  6. All down to laughable unionist insecurity. Just sit back and laugh at these absolute tools. It is actually funny when you think about it.

  7. Honestly the most pathetic losers on earth, of all the fun things you can do with your spare time they spend theirs deliberately trying to provoke, humiliate and intimidate over half the population.

    It’s just so pathetically sad.

  8. It’s always been this way. I don’t care for any of it but it doesn’t actively bother me.

    I find type these posts a little stupid.

  12. Where can I get one of those Pollock Plaice Chip Shop flegs?

  13. Bigoted terrorists that have nothing in their lives other than being sectarian losers.

    They at least tell which areas to avoid and never spend money in.

  15. This is why I hope Mo Chara’s court case isn’t dismissed because of the 6 month 1 day issue… I hope it goes ahead so the hypocrisy is laid out bare for all the world to see (and then ultimately dismissed obvs). If Mo Chara can be arrested then every single one of these people involved in erecting and standing proudly by, should be.

  16. Dubliner here. I just can’t understand why they aren’t ripped down in nationalist majority towns. They’re UVF flags for God sake. Hugely offensive.

  18. Nothing wrong with putting flags up to celebrate something. Lots wrong with drug dealers masquerading as something else to keep people in check. These Loyalist head bangers deserve respect from no one.

Comments are closed.