02:05UK: Police to investigate Saoradh hunger strike commemorations
Hundreds of people attended a dissident Irish republican parade in Newry on Saturday to commemorate the 1981 hunger strike which cost the lives of 10 Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) prisoners.
"We feel it is our duty to commemorate them and remember them, with pride, and we will continue to do so despite of unionists and all this hysteria," said a supporter of Saoradh, who organised the march.
He hoped that the national hunger strike commemoration, currently in its fourth year, would continue to be an annual event.
Police monitoring the parade could be heard telling the marchers: "This parade breaches parade commission determination and you are now liable for prosecution." The Saoradh parade was allowed by the Parades Commission, but only under strict conditions.
Saoradh was found by the authorities to be the policing wing of the New IRA, a congregation of multiple groups opposing the peace process.
The Commission's code of conduct strictly forbids displaying any references, insignia, flag or emblem related to proscribed organisation as well as wearing paramilitary-style clothing. Both the prohibited style of clothing and republican flags such as the Sunburst flag and Ulster arms on a yellow backdrop could be seen.
02:05Hundreds of people attended a dissident Irish republican parade in Newry on Saturday to commemorate the 1981 hunger strike which cost the lives of 10 Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) prisoners.
"We feel it is our duty to commemorate them and remember them, with pride, and we will continue to do so despite of unionists and all this hysteria," said a supporter of Saoradh, who organised the march.
He hoped that the national hunger strike commemoration, currently in its fourth year, would continue to be an annual event.
Police monitoring the parade could be heard telling the marchers: "This parade breaches parade commission determination and you are now liable for prosecution." The Saoradh parade was allowed by the Parades Commission, but only under strict conditions.
Saoradh was found by the authorities to be the policing wing of the New IRA, a congregation of multiple groups opposing the peace process.
The Commission's code of conduct strictly forbids displaying any references, insignia, flag or emblem related to proscribed organisation as well as wearing paramilitary-style clothing. Both the prohibited style of clothing and republican flags such as the Sunburst flag and Ulster arms on a yellow backdrop could be seen.