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Source: Reuters
The rise of rabid sectarianism in Northern Ireland is a source
of concern as the province's divisive marching season gets under
way, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said.
McGuinness, whose Sinn Fein shares power with pro-British parties,
said the killing of a Catholic community worker in the town of
Coleraine reflected the tensions that still exist despite a 1998
peace deal.
"Given the events of recent times, not least the disgusting murder
of Kevin McDaid in Coleraine, it is a source of concern that we
have people who think it's a good idea to try and plunge our
society back into conflict," McGuinness said.
He said the only thing missing in the Coleraine incident was "the
white hoods, the burning crucifixes and the Ku Klux Klan".
"There is a responsibility on all political leaders to stand
together and face up to the rabid sectarianism that there is in
certain parts of the north," said McGuinness, a former IRA
guerrilla commander.
Northern Ireland's Protestant community hold a series of marches
during the summer months, peaking on July 12 when parades to
celebrate a centuries-old military victory often trigger sectarian
violence with minority Catholics.
The province has enjoyed a relative peace since a 1998 agreement
ended the Irish Republican Army's (IRA) military campaign against
British rule.
But rioting and violence still breaks out between neighbouring
Protestant and Catholic communities.
Strikes at the heart
Sinn Fein, which wants to rid Northern Ireland of British control,
has traditionally used its influence in nationalist communities to
keep a lid on violence during the marching season, which runs until
the end of August.
But it has lost clout in some hard-line neighbourhoods due to
dissatisfaction over perceived concessions to former enemies and
McGuinness's denunciation of dissident nationalist groups who
killed two soldiers and a policeman in March.
Dissidents have threatened to kill McGuinness and senior Sinn Fein
members have had their houses petrol-bombed and their cars
vandalised.
Drew Nelson, grand secretary of the Orange Order Protestant
fraternity, said disgruntled nationalists were already stirring up
trouble ahead of the marches.
Orange Halls, where the organisation meets, have recently been
attacked with paint bombs and graffiti.
"It's a very emotive thing. It strikes at the heart of the
Protestant community when halls and parades are attacked," Nelson
told Reuters.
"We will be targeted by dissident republicans to up the ante, to
increase tensions."
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