Sinn Féin condemns Parachute Regiment Flag as ‘sectarian and divisive’

https://www.impartialreporter.com/news/25579210.outrage-sinn-f-para-flag-raised-tamlaght/

A Parachute Regiment flag erected in the village of Tamlaght – not long after the not guilty verdict delivered to ‘Soldier F’ in last week’s Bloody Sunday trial – has brought condemnation from elected officials.

Soldier F was part of the parachute regiment that back in January 1972, opened fire on a civil rights march in Londonderry that killed 14 people. Soldier F had been on trial last month for the murder of two of those victims.

Sinn Féin representatives, Councillor Dermot Browne and Jemma Dolan MLA both condemned the raising of the flag insisting that the act of doing so not long after a sensitive trial had been concluded was doing nothing more that stoke divisions in the county.

Councillor Browne said: “I am aware of a number of flags across the county, including the one at Tamlaght, which feature messages of support for Soldier F.

“These flags are extremely sectarian and have been erected in order to cause offence, raise tensions, and stoke division within our communities.

“The vast majority of people in Fermanagh have absolutely no time for these flags. Most of us want to foster good relations with our neighbours and move away from these tribal symbols from our past.

“This is a very small minority of very bitter people who are putting these flags up, and they should wise up.

“I have reported the soldier F flags to the PSNI, and I would urge them to swiftly take them down.”

Ms Dolan added: “These flags were clearly erected to stoke fear and division within our community, adding to the hurt faced by families.
“I have (also) contacted the PSNI to request their immediate removal.
“There is no place for sectarian behaviour in our society, particularly the taunting of victims.”

However, in a joint statement from UUP representatives, Diana Armstrong MLA, Councillor Robert Irvine and Councillor Roy Crawford said that while the sensitivities of the flag to a section of the community were duly noted by them, they added that the flag could easily have been erected in light of Remembrance weekend a fortnight away.

The statement read: “It is very subjective to just assume this was erected following the High Court judgement last week, without providing wider context of the time of year with Remembrance where many across the community remember their fallen including those from the Parachute Regiment.

“But we note the sensitivity around the Parachute Regiment and the events of Londonderry in 1972.

“The trial of Soldier F, accused of the murder of two men and the attempted murder of five others, is now over and a not guilty verdict was delivered on all charges.

“This is not the verdict the families would have wanted, but it was clear from the very start of the trail that the evidence, hearsay statements from two soldiers present at the time without legal representation, would never achieve the guilty verdict the families so desperately wanted.”

Regarding whether or not the flag would be removed, a spokeswoman for Fermanagh and Omagh District Council said: “Fermanagh and Omagh District Council does not own the land nor infrastructure on which this flag is being flown and is not responsible for the removal of the item in question; this may be a matter for the Department for Infrastructure.”

A PSNI spokeswoman added: "Police in Enniskillen have been made aware of a flag on display in Tamlaght. Every case reported to police is considered on an individual basis and, where offences have been committed, they will be dealt with.

"The erection of this flag did not constitute a criminal offence. Our Neighbourhood Policing Team officers will continue to engage with local community representatives and partner agencies around any complaints about flags."

However, the Department of Infrastructure said they would be in touch with the PSNI to resolve the matter. A spokeswoman said: "The problem of illegally erected flags is totally unacceptable. The Department will liaise with the PSNI on this particular incident.”