Garda talks on Love Ulster parade

Dublin could have a Love Ulster parade marching through its streets this August after a meeting between gardaí and parade organisers yesterday.

Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (Fair) met with senior Garda management at the Dublin Metropolitan Region headquarters in Harcourt Square to discuss the possibility of restaging the parade to remember the victims of republican violence in the capital after it was abandoned in 2006 when a riot broke out.

Fair organiser, Willy Frazer, said the hour-long meeting went well and gardaí told them they were prepared to facilitate another parade. But they also outlined the high level of security that would be required if a repeat of last year's riot was to be avoided.

"After the elections it was quite obvious that the people of Dublin don't want Sinn Féin IRA," he said. "A lot of people felt now might be the ideal time. Personally, the threat from republicans never deterred me before and given the fact that gardaí are prepared to accommodate us, it's looking fairly promising."

However, he said, they would have to take into consideration the threat to their safety and there was "no point in businesses being damaged or people being hurt".

"The Garda have agreed to police it and there is no reason not to hold it, except for the threat from dissidents," he said. "The Garda said this time it would require a massive operation to secure our safety."

He said they would now go back to speak with members of the organisation to apprise them of what gardaí had told him. They will make a definite decision next week on whether or not to hold the parade. If agreed, he said, the event would go ahead either in August or September.

A spokesman for An Garda Síochána said yesterday's meeting was cordial and productive.

"The policing of proposed future events was discussed," the spokesman said. "No decisions were made at the meeting."

A spokesman for Dublin City Council said if the march is given the go-ahead by gardaí, they will have no objection to it.

On February 25th last year eight busloads of Love Ulster members and supporters, including six loyalist bands, travelled to Dublin bearing Union Jack and Ulster flags.

They gathered on Parnell Square to begin their rally but plans were aborted when a riot broke out on O'Connell Street.

Forty-two people were arrested after the riot and charges were brought against them of arson, criminal damage, public order offences and looting.

Closures and damage are estimated to have cost businesses about €10 million; many shop-fronts were smashed using slabs set aside for O'Connell Street's reconstruction.