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<\/p>\nPSNI Area Commander of Derry City & Strabane, Chief Superintendent Gillian Kearney, said that despite parade organisers\u2019 claims that they wanted to hold a dignified commemoration, \u201cwhat we saw was the complete opposite\u201d. <\/p>\n
“From the commencement of the parade to when it dispersed, we saw masked individuals, which we believe at this time to be a breach of the Parades Commission determination,\u201d she added. <\/p>\n
“As these masked individuals made their way towards the dispersal point on Lecky Road, disorder developed in the area of Nailors Row from around 2.50pm.<\/p>\n
“Petrol bombs, fireworks and masonry were thrown which resulted in nearby Bishop Street (Without) being closed for a time for public safety reasons. Members of the public were diverted away from that area in the City Walls.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Items seized by police after an easter parade in derry <\/p>\n
“This disorder involving young people was orchestrated. We have no doubt about this.<\/p>\n
“Young people were shamelessly and deliberately used in an attempt to distract from and shield the masked individuals as they took cover in a gazebo following the parade in the area of St. Joseph’s Place to change out of their parade clothing.<\/p>\n
“This is child criminal exploitation. It is utterly shameful.”<\/p>\n
Chief Superintendent Kearney said two vehicles \u2013 one in the Frances Street area and another in the Fanad Drive area \u2013 were stopped following the parade as part of a proactive policing operation resulting in two suspects being detained. <\/p>\n
\u201cTwo men, aged 30 and 55, were arrested under The Terrorism Act and have been taken to Musgrave Street Station for questioning,\u201d she continued. <\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the vehicles stopped (a van) was seized.<\/p>\n
“A number of items were also seized.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Masked](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/bt_kscott_216118.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Masked members of a Dissident Republican colour party take part in Derry Easter Rising parade on April 21, 2025. Pic by Paul Faith\/AFP via Getty Images.<\/p>\n
Masked colour party leads new IRA parade through Derry <\/p>\n
Around 150 people had gathered in Derry as the parade takes place in the city on Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n
The parade has previously been billed as the \u2018Unfinished Revolution National Easter Commemoration\u2019, and left the Creggan shops at 2pm, ending at a New IRA monument in the Bogside.<\/p>\n
Images from the parade in Derry showed a masked colour party leading those taking part in the parade.<\/p>\n
There were also young people alongside the parade, some who had petrol bombs. One young person was seen with a shopping trolley full of the objects.<\/p>\n
Before the parade set off, masked youths also gathered at the Creggan shops.<\/p>\n
Large groups of young people were also seen heading in the direction of the Derry Walls, with some throwing petrol bombs at police and gathering beside homes belonging to the elderly.<\/p>\n
Some fireworks were also lit by the young people involved.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile a group of men departed a bus wearing berets and military-style gear. Roads in the Iniscarn and Eastway area had lamp posts freshly painted with the Irish tricolour and IRA signs attached.<\/p>\n
DUP Foyle MLA Gary Middleton condemned the appearance of paramilitary symbols and uniforms during the parade and called for \u201cswift police action\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am deeply concerned by today\u2019s republican parade in Londonderry, which blatantly defies the Parades Commission\u2019s determination,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
“The display of paramilitary-style uniforms, proscribed flags, and symbols associated with terrorism is not only provocative to the people of this city who want to move forward in peace but also outside the law.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis event, organised by individuals linked to the New IRA, represents a glorification of terror and a rejection of the democratic path. It is unacceptable that, in 2025, we are still witnessing such public displays of hatred and division.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe PSNI have monitored this parade but their action must not stop at that. There must be charges and prosecutions for any breaches of the law. Those who flout legal rulings and glorify terrorism must face the consequences.<\/p>\n
\u201cLondonderry deserves better. The vast majority of people, from all backgrounds, want a peaceful future free from the shadow of violence. We stand with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the first time ever its organisers sought permission from the Parades Commission for the event which was granted.<\/p>\n
Last year the Parades Commission received partial notification of a parade for the first time but indicated it was not submitted 28 days in advance which is the norm.<\/p>\n
Therefore, this is the first year that an application was submitted and accepted by the Parades Commission following intervention from leaders in the community.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/48a3037e-30ac-4878-8f25-5f710c7b5ad1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The New IRA on Parade in Derry on April 21st 2025 (Photo by Garrett Hargan)<\/p>\n
It\u2019s understood that those organising the parade hoped that with it recognised as a legal march there would be assurances of no police presence but the PSNI did not make any such agreement.<\/p>\n
The parade is taking a different route, with those in the community believing it would help to avoid a number of flashpoints such as arrests at the City Cemetery gates.<\/p>\n
Rather than starting at Central Drive and ending at the City Cemetery which is about half a mile, this year\u2019s parade covers more than a mile, ending at what Saoradh calls the \u2018People\u2019s Monument\u2019 at Free Derry Corner.<\/p>\n
Around 500 participants were expected with two bands registered, one of them from Glasgow.<\/p>\n
The Parades Commission noted that \u201chistorically, there has been serious criminal offending associated with this parade\u201d and urged those organising and participating to ensure it doesn\u2019t happen again.<\/p>\n
A condition was imposed that \u201cno paramilitary-style clothing\u201d should be worn or flags, bannerettes or symbols relating to proscribed organisations displayed.<\/p>\n
PSNI vehicles have been attacked in recent years.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/510ff987-b275-4d3d-a93d-c02735583a9e.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The New IRA on Parade in Derry on April 21st 2025 (Photo by Garrett Hargan)<\/p>\n
Last year, when police stayed out of Creggan and monitored the parade with a drone and from a helicopter, a number of young people threw petrol bombs at journalists and photographers who were covering events on the day.<\/p>\n
Prior to this year\u2019s parade, Saoradh said its \u2018Unfinished Revolution Easter Commemoration\u2019 would be carried out in a \u201cdignified and respectful manner\u201d.<\/p>\n
A statement added: \u201cWe remind all involved that this is a solemn occasion of remembrance and political expression.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs such, we demand the Crown Forces to stay away and refrain from any provocative or heavy-handed presence that would only serve to increase tensions and disrespect the memory of those being commemorated.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe call on all supporters and the broader Republican family to join us in paying tribute in a disciplined and appropriate fashion.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the parade concluding at Free Derry Corner there was some concern that young people may seek to target police, if there was a presence in the area.<\/p>\n
It comes after a source said there was a rise in tensions as the PSNI recently moved in to remove wooden pallets that had been gathered in Meenan Square, months ahead of an annual bonfire.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PSNI Area Commander of Derry City & Strabane, Chief Superintendent Gillian Kearney, said that despite parade organisers\u2019 claims…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":39240,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5011],"tags":[6722,1817,22305,22306,1144,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-39239","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-northern-ireland","8":"tag-christopher-leebody","9":"tag-derry-news","10":"tag-garrett-hargan","11":"tag-ira","12":"tag-northern-ireland","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114377884239684322","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39239"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39239\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39240"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}