Tension remains in Rasharkin

If a Parades Commission determination remains unchanged those taking part in the parade will not be allowed to parade back through the village.

It is understood that has created what sources have described as a “logistical nightmare” and it is believed police have been central to seeing if special shuttle buses can be put on to help ferry back parade participants to their cars at the march starting point at the ‘Turnpike’ end of the village.

In the wake of the Parades Commission ruling, Rasharkin-based Sinn Fein Assemblyman Daithi McKay called on only local people to take part in the official protest being held against the parade.

Some loyalists, meanwhile, have circulated text messages urging loyalists to turn up in Rasharkin this Friday to protest at the Parades Commission tampering, as they see it, with what they said was their ‘traditional route’.

And in the build-up to the parade there have been reported incidents at Rasharkin Orange Hall and Rasharkin GAA Hall and claims about an incident in which a car was damaged in the Sunnyside area of the village during a loyal order parade on Saturday.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police are investigating damage caused to a car in the Sunnyside Park area of Rasharkin on Saturday (14th). Enquiries are ongoing to establish how the damage was caused.”

The spokesman also said: “Police are investigating minor damage to the wall of an Orange Hall in Main Street Rasharkin – reported to police on Sunday afternoon (15th).”

And Daithi McKay said graffiti was written at Rasharkin GAA Club. He blamed loyalists and said it was an attempt to heighten tension in the run up to the Ballymaconnelly march.