McElduff challenges UUP's Hussey
by Pádraig MacDabhaid
Sinn Fein's West Tyrone Assembly member, Barry McElduff, has
challenged the UUP's joint whip, Derek Hussey, to explain the
contradiction between his support for the Good Friday Agreement and
the actions of the band he cofounded, the Castlederg Young Loyalists.
The challenge comes after the RUC sealed off Castlederg town centre
in order to accommodate 25 loyalist bands, some of them coming from
Scotland to march with the Castlederg Young Loyalists on Saturday, 24
April.
Mr McElduff was contacted by a large number of people in the `Head of
the Town' area who complained about the behaviour of the loyalists.
Residents in Ashburn Park, a small private housing development, and
Ferguson Crescent complained of band members and supporters urinating
in their gardens, verbally and physically abusing and exposing
themselves to residents, throwing beer cans into gardens, and
continuing to play their music until 1 am.
Every year this march creates tension in the area, with local
families being made prisoners in their own homes. One local man who
did not wish to be named explained: ``If you put your nose outside the
door you received a mouthful of abuse''.
A young girl received head injuries after being hit by a stone as
loyalists attacked nationalist residents.
``These people seem to bring trouble everywhere they go'' said
McElduff.
The role of the RUC in this sectarian display has also been brought
into question. A local man complained to McElduff that when he phoned
Castlederg RUC barracks to complain that he and his wife were unable
to leave their homes, an RUC Inspector Collins put the phone down
McElduff asks: ``Does Derek Hussey, also an Assembly member for West
Tyrone, really support the Good Friday Agreement which offers people
`freedom from sectarian harassment', or is he just a supporter on
paper like the rest of his party?''
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