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Apprentice Boys Parade

Despite a number of minor incidents during and after the annual parade of the Apprentice Boys there is general relief that serious violence did not break out on Saturday in Derry. A number of people were injured during sporadic stone and bottle throwing in the Diamond area of the city, the point on the route of the parade closest to the Bogside area. From the perspective of the PFC the following observations were made.

On the nationalist side of the RUC cordon a number of very young kids were intent on throwing missiles and demeaning the Tricolour by waving it as a symbol of provocation. There is an obvious problem in terms of parents who abdicate responsibility for children who were putting themselves in danger. A stone is hardly likely to damage an RUC landrover. Had the RUC replied with plastic bullets we might well be facing serious injuries this morning. Stewards from the Bogside Residents Group did their best to contain the situation however and ensure that this did not escalate. Their job would have been made much easier if provocation were not offered by loyalist bands however.

On the loyalist side of the cordon 'blood and thunder' bands and individual members of the 'Boys' insisted on stopping at the Diamond to play sectarian tunes and chant sectarian songs. This led to a palpable escalation in tension in the area. A further major problem concerns the consumption of alcohol, especially by bandsmen. Drunken loyalists remained in the Diamond catcalling and throwing missiles across the cordon. On a number of occasions they clashed with their own stewards and with the RUC. This scenario is unlikely to change in future years until the Apprentice Boys face up the issues of bands and booze.

Following the main parade two RUC men were attacked in Shipquay St. When one fell to the ground two live rounds were fired in the air by another RUC officer who came to his aid. The injured RUC man was then taken to hospital.

The situation throughout the day had the potential to lead to serious violence. That this did not happen is largely due to the talks that preceded the parade and the stewarding on the day by both the BRG and the Apprentice Boys.

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Trouble in Strabane

Later on Saturday night trouble broke out in Strabane, 15 miles from Derry. It is not believed the trouble was related to the parade in Derry. Plastic bullets were fired by the RUC during incidents in the head of the town area at around 4am. Petrol bombs were also reported to have been thrown. There are not thought to have been any injuries or arrests.

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Waterside Shooting Aftermath

It has been announced that one of the two Catholic brothers injured in a sectarian attack in the Waterside area of Derry on July 27 has had a leg amputated and remains in a very serious condition in a Belfast hospital. The man, Anthony Creane, was shot along with his brother Francis when a number of men entered their home in the Nelson Drive area of the city, a loyalist enclave. This morning two Waterside men were charged with the shooting.

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LVF Ceasefire

Scepticism has greeted the weekend announcement by the Loyalist Volunteer Force of an 'absolute, utter finish' to its campaign of random assasination of innocent Catholics. On previous occasions the same loyalist paramilitary group has announced ceasefires which were quickly followed by further murders. It is widely believed that the announcement is an attempt to have LVF prisoners included in the early release of prisoners whose organisations have declared ceasefires. It is not thought that this will happen in the short term at least. The organisation lost its leader Billy Wright who was shot dead by the INLA in prison last December and suffered a further blow when the man who replaced Wright absconded to England with his family and most of the organisations funds. The LVF has been responsible for a series of brutal murders of Catholics since members of the Mid-Ulster Brigade of the UVF split from the organisation to form the Portadown based group.

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Ireland News Update Monday 10th August 1998	If you came directly to this page use this button to reach the Weekly Ireland News Update Service
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