SAOIRSE32

Irish News
1 July 09

LOYALISM ON SHOW: Loyalist flags, including that of the UVF, at Fortwilliam in north Belfast, left, and, centre and right, at the Shore Road entrance to Fortwilliam

THERE have been fears that loyalists are trying to stoke up tensions ahead of the marching season, reneging on previous agreements over flags in contested areas.

Last week there were disturbances in Coleraine after loyalists attempted to place flags close to the nationalist area where father-of-four Kevin McDaid was murdered on May 24.

Since then there have been a number of further incidents with nationalist residents raising concerns that previous arrangements over shared space were now being ignored.

Shots fired at a house in Ballymena have been attributed to an argument over the erecting of flags in a mixed housing development.

Over the past fortnight hundreds of flags have been placed in predominantly nationalist areas of south Belfast.

The Ormeau Road and Finaghy crossroads areas are both bedecked with loyalist flags.

At Fortwilliam in north Belfast, which backs onto the staunchly loyalist Mount Vernon estate, Union, Ulster and UVF flags have appeared in recent days.

In areas where cross-community dialogue has taken place there have in the past been verbal agreements on the issue of flags.

This has included an agreed time-scale as to when flags will be placed along a route and when they will be taken back down again.

Loyalist spokesman Harry Smith, who is a member of the loyalist

Finaghy Crossroads group, last night said the issue was a sensitive one that called for compromise on both sides.

“I personally would like to see a time when unionist/loyalist people fly flags from their homes rather than from lamp-posts as they did in the past,” Mr Smith said.

“In the meantime, though, peace does not just happen over night. It has to be worked at.

“There is a very real fear within the loyalist community that the right to express our culture is being slowly chipped away and eroded.

“Tolerance and respect for one another’s culture must be reciprocated on both sides of the divide.

“In recent years flags have been reduced in south Belfast and following the last Saturday of August work will begin in the area to remove flags from lamp-posts.”

However, Sinn Fein spokesman for the area Vincent Parker said the flags were an annual setback to good relations.

“The majority of the residents in Finaghy don’t want flags erected,” Mr Parker said.

“Some Protestant families have contacted me to tell me they are uncomfortable with flags being erected in an area.

“Local business owners on the Lisburn Road have also said the flags have a negative impact on their trade in the summer months.

“Residents that I have spoken to are sick and tired of these flags being erected every year.”