NORTHERN Ireland’s two main unionist parties have defended the attendance of their MLAs at a loyalist flag protest outside the offices of Alliance MP Naomi Long in east Belfast on Tuesday night.
Yesterday, the Alliance Party launched a scathing attack after the DUP’s Sammy Douglas and Christopher Stalford and UUP MLA Michael Copeland turned up at the protest with PUP representatives, after the attempted murder of a police officer outside Ms Long’s offices on the previous night.
However, the DUP and UUP both say that their politicians had given leadership and had not contradicted the calls from Peter Robinson and Mike Nesbitt for the protests to stop or be suspended.
Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle asked: “Did the leaders of the DUP and UUP approve of their MLAs attending an illegal protest that blocked the Upper Newtownards Road last night?”
He added: “It is beyond belief that just hours after their leaders called for protests to be suspended or ended, and within 24 hours of a murderous attack on a police officer and ongoing threats to elected representatives, these MLAs attended an illegal protest at the very spot where the attack took place. No elected representative should be attending protests that defy the law.
“The leaders of these parties insist that they cannot control protests, but surely they can at least control their own MLAs?”
Last night, a DUP spokesman told the News Letter that party members had helped ensure the protest passed without trouble.
“Our elected representatives attended a public meeting,” he said.
“After the meeting, those attending wanted to hold a short protest. Our elected representatives worked with the protestors and the police to ensure that the protest was peaceful. The protestors dispersed after 15 minutes.”
A spokesperson for the Ulster Unionist Party said Michael Copeland has taken “responsible action” by going along to the protest.
“The Ulster Unionist Party has been clear on our position over protests in recent days.
“Our reservations have always been around the potential for violence at protests,” said the spokesperson.
“I welcome that Tuesday night’s protest in east Belfast was peaceful and I hope that this is a sign of some stability being restored to this situation.
“Like other politicians Michael Copeland attended a meeting in east Belfast last night. When it became clear that a protest would follow, Michael felt that the responsible action to take was to follow as an observer.”
Jim Wilson, a loyalist community worker from east Belfast, praised the actions of the unionist politicians and said it could be a model for peaceful protests in other parts of Belfast.
“The DUP, UUP and PUP men were asked to come along, the people wanted to be given leadership, the violence we have seen at other protests has been caused in part by the lack of leadership,” he said.
“I don’t know how anyone can criticise them for coming along.
“The night before, there was an attack on a policewoman, but on Tuesday night there was no violence, so what does that tell you?
“There is a huge number of ordinary people who are still angry and still want to protest, but when there is no clear leadership, that is when trouble starts.”
And Mr Wilson added: “If only we could see more politicians on the streets, then there might be less violence in other parts.”
DUP Foyle MLA William Hay also said he will attend the ongoing protests to help ensure that violence is averted.
“I will be attending wherever I am needed as the only unionist MLA for Foyle. It has nothing to do with my role as Speaker of the House at Stormont,” Mr Hay told the News Letter yesterday.
“There is a lot of anger and frustration among the unionist community at the minute and it would be totally wrong of me to just ignore that.
“If I heard that a protest is taking place and I am asked to attend, then I will go along to give some sort of leadership and prevent any violence which we have seen at some of the other protests.
“In no way am I going against what Peter Robinson has said.
“I am not the one who is organising these protests, but so long as they continue, then I will attend where I feel it necessary, until we have some sort of end to this.”
Another DUP MLA – Ian McCrea – said he was right to attend a protest in Cookstown on Monday.
“I am a unionist MLA for the people of mid-Ulster and when a protest takes place, then I will attend,” he told the News Letter yesterday.
“As a party we fully support people’s right to protest peacefully, and it was understandable that our party leader Peter Robinson called for a cessation after the recent violence.
“But the protests are continuing and as Assembly members we have an important role to go and stand with the people and speak with them. That is what democracy is about.”
Mr McCrea also rejected claims in Tuesday’s News Letter that he had been intimidated into leaving the protest in Cookstown.
He said: “There were some people who came along to express their views on certain things.
“I don’t think that was the place or time to do it.
“But I was not intimidated, in fact I was one of the last people to leave. Anyone who knows me knows that I am not easily intimidated either by republicans or anyone else.”
Meanwhile, SDLP East Londonderry MLA John Dallat said a Union Flag placed on his Limavady office building had frightened his staff.
The flag was erected last night, while the sign, which bore the party logo, was torn from the wall.
Mr Dallat said: “While this is mild compared to what has happened to other elected representatives, it is nevertheless deeply annoying.
“I believe this is linked to a protest outside Limavady Council offices earlier in the night.
“Those involved have caused fear among my staff who serve the whole community and while I will not be intimidated I am mindful that I do not want to see anyone hurt or the building – which is rented – damaged.”
He added: “I have been in public life for nearly 40 years and find the current intimidation the worst for many years.
“I find it totally hypocritical that people who claim their Britishness is being undermined want to impose their flag on me and rip down the sign promoting my political party.”