Belfast Parade Row Deepens As Drogheda Honours Veterans

While wreaths bearing the Royal Crest will this weekend be laid alongside those in Irish Tricolour colours in an annual cross-border commemoration for WWI British soldiers in Drogheda, (pictured) disagreement continues over the following day's Belfast Services' parade.

Sinn Féin's high profile protest against the armed forces' homecoming parade on Sunday is "unhelpful", the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church has said.

In a letter to party President Gerry Adams, Dr Donald Patton said the spirit of the parade was one of "thanksgiving" rather than "triumphalism".

Dr Patton said both Catholic and Protestant personnel from both sides of the border had served in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"Such an example of co-operation is to be welcomed in this divided land of ours," said the Presbyterian leader.

The church leader's comments will be reflected on Saturday as members of Whiteabbey Royal British Legion jointly remember Irishmen who fought and died for the British forces.

The former soldiers and many friends from across Northern Ireland - including the Mayor of Newtownabbey, Victor Robinson - will join with the Irish Ex-Service Mens' Association at Drogheda's Mary Street War Memorial for the only such annual all-Ireland remembrance event.

Former Northern Ireland Royal British Legion Chairman, John Dumigan, said: "This important tribute to those who served in 1914-18 for the common good has grown from a small party of representatives from Whiteabbey Royal British Legion being invited by former Mayor Sean Collins to take part in the revival of a long-neglected ceremony to what is now an important annual cross-border event."

However, while the wreaths are being laid in Co Louth without controversy and the 'Last Post' sounded - by a bugler whose own grandfather served at The Somme - and an inter-denominational religious ceremony recalling the service and sacrifice of thousands who joined the British forces will take place at the weekend, the Sinn Féin leader has ruled out calling off the party's protest in Belfast just hours later.

Mr Adams said: "The history of the British Army in Ireland was one of great cruelty and hurt."

NI First Minister Peter Robinson is already on record as saying that the Parades Commission's decision to allow the Sinn Féin parade was a "recipe for disaster".

(BMcC)