(by Colm Heatley, Irelandclick.com)

DUP councillor Ian Crozier says he can understand why hard-line loyalist protesters picketed Cemetery Sunday at Carnmoney graveyard last weekend.

Around two-dozen loyalists shouted abuse at hundreds of grieving families gathered inside the graveyard for a special mass to commemorate their loved ones.

Later loyalists burned wood on the O’Neill Road as the PSNI moved into disperse them.

But Ian Crozier says the protest occurred because Protestants feel excluded on Cemetery Sunday.

“I can see their point of view, Protestants feel excluded on Cemetery Sunday, they feel as though they can’t go in to their loved ones.

“The graveyard is taken over by Catholics and it is not a familiar thing for people to see.”

And Ian Crozier compared Cemetery Sunday to contentious Orange parades.

“You can’t tell Protestants to stay away from the Cemetery on Sunday, that is like telling Catholics to lie in bed for half an hour while an Orange Parade passes.”

Last year’s Cemetery Sunday witnessed similar protests, days later St Bernard’s chapel was destroyed in an arson attack.

But St Bernard’s priest Fr Dan White described the protest as pathetic and unnecessary.

He said a lone loyalist protester came into the cemetery waving a British flag during the ceremony.

“Things weren’t as serious as last year, there wasn’t the same tension.

“The protest was mostly young people at the O’Neill Road entrance to the graveyard and fortunately it didn’t interfere with the prayer service. One man who came into the graveyard waving a Union Jack looked like an idiot, people smiled at him as they would an eejit or village fool.

“I dare say the people who took part in the protest wouldn’t know the inside of a church, Protestant or otherwise.”

SDLP man Michael McBrien, whose wife is buried in the cemetery said he was appalled at the scenes.

“I was there like thousands of others for the service in memory of our loved ones.

“Although we couldn’t hear the protests it is disgraceful that they took place at all.

“Cemetery Sunday is no threat to anyone and to choose to politicise and protest against this issue is beyond belief. The way forward for the communities in Newtownabbey is through dialogue and understanding not shouting abuse over fences.”

This article appeared first on the Irelandclick.com web site on May 31, 2002.

HOME