IRA victims on Long March don't want to be forgotten

"There is no justice in this country

"There is no justice in this country. The next thing the government will do is ban victims from even talking about their suffering," said Mrs Margaret Davidson last night.

Mrs Davidson was angry at the Parades Commission's decision to reroute the Long March, in support of Protestant rights and Portadown Orangemen, away from nationalist areas of Lurgan, Co Armagh, on Friday.

Many victims of Provisional IRA violence are taking part in the walk. "Those people should be treated with respect after what they have been through, not banned from walking their own streets," she said.

Mrs Davidson was attending a rally in Ballymena, Co Antrim, which followed the arrival of the Long March in the town. Several thousand people attended the event, which coincided with a mini-Twelfth festival.

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One of the organisers, Northern Ireland Unionist Party Assembly member Mr Norman Boyd, condemned the Parades Commission's decision, which followed nationalist objections.

Mr Boyd said: "Nationalists had previously claimed Protestant marches were offensive because of the music and flags. Well, we don't have either. We have no kick-the-Pope bands, no Union Jacks, no sectarian tunes, yet nationalists have still objected." He said the marchers had conducted themselves in "a peaceful and dignified manner" from the start of their walk.

Among those attending last night's rally were two victims of Provisional IRA violence who are now confined to wheelchairs.

Mr Billy Acheson sustained spinal injuries in a attack in Belfast when he was mistaken for an RUC man.

Mr Jim Stewart lost his legs when a bomb exploded in the Abercorn Restaurant in Belfast 27 years ago. Mr Stewart said the Long March should not have been rerouted.

"I'm not here to offend anyone. All I want to do is make sure the victims aren't forgotten. Everybody has suffered in the Troubles, Protestants and Catholics. I called into the Abercorn for a cup of coffee in March 1972 and ended up losing my legs.

"I don't want to raise tensions. All I want to do is help the victims and heighten awareness about what they have been through."