Sir, – The decision by Willie Frazer, who represents the group Fair (Families Acting for Innocent Relatives), to seek permission to hold a second "Love Ulster" march in Dublin early next year is regrettable ("Loyalists planning Love Ulster march in Dublin early next year", December 6th).
While I fully endorse one’s right to assemble and march, within the parameters of the law and due recognition given to accepted civilised behaviour, the inclusion of loyalist bandsmen appears to be a deliberate attempt by Mr Frazer to provoke a reaction. If this proposed march, as Mr Frazer claims, is to highlight the suffering of innocent victims of violence in the North, why is it confined to Protestant victims only? Why are Catholic victims of violence excluded? Surely if Mr Frazer is to be consistent in applying principles of justice, fairness and equality in both life and death, all suffering should be recognised?
If the Garda concede to Mr Frazer’s request and grant permission for the march to proceed, restrictions must be put in place to avoid a recurrence of the civil disorder witnessed on the previous occasion Mr Frazer’s group marched in Dublin.
Under no circumstances should this group be allowed to parade with sectarian flags and emblems or should loyalist bandsmen be allowed to play sectarian tunes.
Most importantly of all they must not be allowed to parade in the vicinity of where the Dublin bombings of May 1974 took place.
I look forward to the day when all the victims of the Troubles can be remembered with equal respect and dignity, regardless of creed or political status, collectively. I take the view that Mr Frazer’s narrow focus in representing Protestant victims has only set that day back. – Yours, etc,
TOM COOPER,
Templeogue,
Dublin 6W.