Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
LODGE SAYS SORRY FOR CITY HALL SASH BASH
Officials probe Scottish band parade storm
AN Orange lodge has apologised to Belfast City Council after a loyalist band paraded inside City Hall playing The Sash.
Online videos showed members of the Glasgow-based Govan Protestant Boys marching in the building on Saturday.
The band was accused of playing some sectarian tunes and breaking rules by parading in corridors and the reception area.
The letter was sent to City Hall by the George Telford Memorial Lodge in North Belfast, the BBC reported yesterday.
It explained the centenary dinner “had been planned for upwards of two years”. The letter said: “We are extremely disappointed this important event has been overshadowed as a result of a misunderstanding concerning the band as part of the night’s entertainment.
“And, in particular, where and when they could play. We wish to make it clear the decision to allow the band to play outside of the function room was made without the approval or prior knowledge of any lodge officer, County Grand Lodge officer or elected representative present. The lodge, as the organiser of the function, however accepts responsibility for this unfortunate incident and apologises for any offence it may have caused.”
The letter added the lodge had launched its own internal probe and would also review how “we plan, host and manage all future events to ensure no similar incidents take place”.
Sinn Fein, SDLP and Alliance Party councillors condemned the incident and called for an investigation by City Hall.
A council spokesman confirmed it had “received a letter of apology from the Orange Order” and its inquiry is ongoing.