“The British Secretary of State can stop this sectarian march being forced down that road. And that is what he must do.”
From Sinn Fein
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD today raised with An Taoiseach Micheál Martin the need for the Irish government to inform the British Secretary of State of his responsibility to ensure that there is no Orange Order march down the Garvaghy Road.
Speaking at Leaders’ Questions in Dáil, Ms McDonald said that the Irish and British governments have a responsibility to ensure that this community continues to live in peace, free from sectarian intimidation. She stated that the governments have a responsibility to stop this sectarian march being forced on the people of the Garvaghy Road.
The Sinn Féin Leader said:
“The British Secretary of State can stop this sectarian march being forced down that road.
And that is what he must do.
“That is the way to restore peace and calm. That is the way to resolve this crisis. Taoiseach, have you informed the British Prime Minister and the Secretary of State of their responsibility to end this nightmare, to stop this march, and to allow the people of the Garvaghy Road and beyond to return to their peaceful lives?”
Ms McDonald said:
“Over recent days, I’ve stood with the Garvaghy Road community. I’ve spoken to those mothers and grandmothers who lived through the dark years, and to parents, children, teenagers who have lived their entire lives free from that intimidation and fear.
“And that is the greatest gift peace has given to an entire generation.
“So why, in God’s name, would anyone seek to drag this community backwards?
“Whatever their motivations – they will fail. Because there is no going back. The days of Unionist domination are over.”
Ms McDonald’s Dáil contribution in full:
A Thaoiseach,
Tá pobal Bóthar Gharbhachaidh go hiomlán i gcoinne an mórshiúl Oráiste atá á mbrú síos a mbóthar.
Tá sé de cheart acu maireachtáil faoi shíocháin.
Caithfidh Stát-Rúnaí na Breataine gníomhú láithreach chun stop a chur le haon mhórshiúl seicteach a bheith á bhrú ar an bpobal seo.
Dignity.
Togetherness.
Resolve.
Strength.
That is what the community of the Garvaghy Road has demonstrated over recent days, Taoiseach.
Mothers and fathers. Grandmothers and grandfathers. Families, neighbours and friends.
They have stood together, day and night, to defend the peace their community has enjoyed for twenty-eight years.
And they stand firm because threat remains.
And the fundamental question they ask is – why?
Why, after twenty-eight years of peace, are the Orange Order and the DUP so determined to force this unwanted march down the Garvaghy Road?
Why, when a generation has grown up without this intimidation, without this fear, why is there such determination to reopen this dispute and override the clearly expressed wishes of the community?
It defies belief that the Parades Commission could conclude that this march should return after twenty-eight years.
Taoiseach, you correctly described that decision as “incomprehensible and wrong”.
And I agree.
But how was such an incomprehensible and wrong decision arrived at?
What changed?
Remember what this dispute brought in the past.
Twenty-one sectarian murders.
Among the dead three little boys – Richard, Mark and Jason Quinn – murdered when their home was petrol-bombed by Loyalists
Rosemary Nelson – the solicitor to the Garvaghy Road residents – killed by Loyalists.
Robert Hamill kicked to death by Loyalists.
And over recent days, I’ve stood with the Garvaghy Road community.
Spoken to those mothers and grandmothers who lived through the dark years, and to parents, children, teenagers who have lived their entire lives free from that intimidation and fear.
And that is the greatest gift peace has given to an entire generation.
So why, in God’s name, would anyone seek to drag this community backwards?
Whatever their motivations – they will fail.
Because there is no going back.
The days of Unionist domination are over.
The Irish and British governments have a responsibility to ensure that this community continues to live in peace, free from sectarian intimidation, and have a responsibility to ensure that there is no Orange Order march down the Garvaghy Road.
The British Secretary of State can stop this sectarian march being forced down that road.
And that is what he must do.
That is the way to restore peace and calm.
That is the way to resolve this crisis.
Taoiseach, have you informed the British Prime Minister and the Secretary of State of their responsibility to end this nightmare, to stop this march, and to allow the people of the Garvaghy Road and beyond to return to their peaceful lives?
- This was originally published on September 29 here.
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