Following on from his letter to the Chief Constable about the Sinn Fein parade in Dungiven on 5^th August TUV leader Jim Allister has today written to the Parades Commission in the following terms:

Dear Mr Osborne,

Re Sinn Fein Parade in Dungiven, 5^th August 2012

A member of my party, Councilor Boyd Douglas, had occasion to be in Dungiven when the above demonstration was taking place.

While in the village Cllr Douglas witnessed men dressed in paramilitary style uniforms and others dressed as RUC officers mounting a mock road block while carrying replica firearms. Footage displaying some of this can be viewed online here.

This demonstration appears to be in clear breach of the Parades Commission guidelines, I therefore write to ascertain:

(a) Why a march to commemorate a terrorist was not flagged as being contentious by the Parades Commission?

(b) If there were any monitors from the Commission at the parade?

(c) What the Commission’s view is of the paramilitary clothing worn by marchers and the replica firearms carried during the demonstation?

(c) What ramifications the conduct of the marchers will have for future applications for similar parades by Sinn Fein?

Additionally I would draw your attention to a video which has been posted online (it can be viewed here) which shows bands at the demonstration stopping to play adjacent to  Dungiven Church of Ireland and its church hall.

I would be obliged if the Commission could advise me as to what action they intend to take against the bands involved. Surely the Commission will want to be consistent  following its recent ruling in relation to a Loyal Order parade in Belfast.

Yours sincerely,

Jim Allister

General