Scot dies after Orange parade
WILLIAM TINNING
July 31 2006
A SCOT has been killed in Northern Ireland after being viciously attacked by a mob and thrown in front of an oncoming vehicle.
The man, in his 30s, who has not been identified, had been visiting friends and relatives in the area.
The assault occurred outside a nightclub, near Tobermore, County Londonderry, where a disco had been organised following an earlier Orange Order march two miles away in Maghera.
The man is understood to have attended the parade. Police believe the thugs involved deliberately shoved him in front of an oncoming vehicle.
The driver is believed to have stopped after the collision early on Saturday but took off again when he saw the size of the crowd.
The Northern Ireland Police Service last night confirmed that a man has been arrested in connection with the incident. Officers also carried out searches at a number of houses in the King William III estate in Maghera in connection with the inquiry.
The driver of the vehicle was also urged to come forward in a bid to identify the killers.
Police said a red car with a passenger on board may have been involved. A spokesman said: “Police urgently need to speak to the driver of the vehicle which struck the man as he or she may hold important witness information about the assault.”
Detectives do not suspect any sectarian motive for the attack.
Local politicians expressed their horror at the incident. Martin McGuinness, Sinn Fein Mid Ulster MP, said: “This is an horrific death.
“It appears that this man was very badly beaten and sustained serious injures before being deliberately left on the road and hit by a motorist.
“No matter who this man is, he was someone’s son, brother or father and his family will be mourning his loss.
“I am also sure that the motorist is traumatised by this,” he added.
Patsy McGlone, nationalist SDLP Mid Ulster MLA, said: “Whoever was responsible for this serious attack is dangerous and I would urge anyone who may have information on the lead up to this alleged murder, or anyone who may have witnessed the attack, to come forward without delay.
“My deepest sympathies are with the family of the victim, and I hope the police investigation provides them with answers to what exactly happened.”
Thousands of Scottish members of the Orange Order travel to Northern Ireland each year for the July 12 celebrations.
Meanwhile, it has been announced that the Orange Order in Scotland is to hold religious tolerance classes for children in an effort to combat sectarianism.
The Order will invite youngsters to anti-bigotry workshops, where they will learn about Islam and the Catholic faith, and encourage them to befriend people of different faiths.
The new initiative, to be launched later this year, is said to have been welcomed by the Scottish Executive, which will fund a pilot scheme for 20 youngsters aged eight to 16.
If successful, the scheme will be expanded and launched in the Orange Order’s 80 junior lodges.
Ian Wilson, grandmaster of the Orange Order in Scotland, said: “Some people believe the Orange Order is a contributing factor to the sectarian problem, and if there is a problem then we have a duty to confront it.”
