Loyalist Band apologises for playing outside Catholic Church

A Loyalist band at the centre of a row over playing a sectarian song outside a Catholic Church in Belfast on July 12 has apologised for its actions.

As reported by CiNews, the incident took place for a 15 minute period outside Saint Patrick's Church on Donegall Street, when the band played a number of tunes that were perceived as being anti-Catholic, outside the church. 

The PSNI and the Orange Order later said they would investigate the incident, while both the DUP and Sinn Fein have clashed on the issue.

However in an unexpected development,  the flute band said they are, “sorry,” for any offence and admitted that the associations of a tune played during the incident was, “perhaps unfortunate.” 

However the Young Conway Volunteers (YCV) band also insisted that the location outside Saint Patrick's Catholic Church on Donegall Street in the City was unintentional.

The band, based on the Shankhill Road in West Belfast, made its statement as the Parades Commission and the Orange Order are to investigate the incident. 

The bands statement added, “If the band may have given offence in this instance, we would certainly apologise to those in authority or engagement, for any act that perceivably may have brought discredit on the colours which we wear, or the historic YCV title which we proudly bear.”

In relation to the music played the band, refuted the allegation that it was playing the anti-Catholic Famine song but admits that playing the Beach Boy's,  Sloop John B, which has the same music, was unfortunate. 

It says, “We can assure you that any singing was coming from supporters and not the band itself.  The singing of words that some supporters associated with the tune the band was playing at the time was perhaps unfortunate and may just have been a by-product of the exuberance of the day of celebration of our culture and history.”

by Sean Ryan