Love Ulster must leave the flags at home

YOUR editorial of March 20, in which you welcome the decision by Willie Frazer of FAIR (Families Acting for Innocent Relatives) to seek permission to hold a Love Ulster march in Dublin next September is, in my view, very regrettable.

While I fully endorse one’s right to assemble and march, within the parameters of the law and with due recognition of civilised behaviour, the inclusion of members of the Orange Order and loyalist bandsmen can only be regarded as a deliberate attempt by Mr Frazer to provoke a reaction.

If this proposed march, as Mr Frazer claims, is to highlight the suffering of victims of violence in the North, why is it confined to Protestant victims of republican violence?

Why are Catholic victims of loyalist violence excluded?

Surely if we are to be consistent in applying principles of justice, fairness and equality in both life and death, all suffering should be recognised.

However, my primary concern regarding the bona fides of Mr Frazer comes from a report dated November 21, 2002, in which he sought, in the High Court in Belfast, a judicial review of the refusal by the PSNI to grant him a firearms certificate.

In the report from the PSNI’s firearms licensing branch, Mr Frazer was notified that the chief inspector was “minded to refuse the application for a personal protection weapon and to revoke the firearms certificate in respect of a shotgun already held by Mr Frazer.

“This view was taken because of your (Mr Frazer’s) alleged association with loyalist terrorist organisations”.

If the gardaí concede to Mr Frazer’s request and grant permission for the march in Dublin to proceed, then restrictions must be put in place to avoid civil disorder.

Under no circumstances should this group be allowed to parade with sectarian flags and emblems — the hallmark of Orange Order marches — and loyalist bandsmen should not be allowed to play sectarian tunes.

Most important of all, they must not be allowed to parade in the vicinity of the Dublin bombings of May 1974.

I look forward to the day when all the victims of the Troubles can be remembered with respect and dignity regardless of creed or political status collectively.

I believe Mr Frazer has set that day back.

Tom Cooper

23 Delaford Lawn

Knocklyon

Dublin 16