Police in (location) have launched an investigation after a group of masked men caused concern during an Easter parade. The men, who were dressed in black and wearing masks, were seen marching alongside the parade route and causing a disturbance. Eyewitnesses reported feeling intimidated by the men’s presence, and police have appealed for information to help identify those involved. The incident has raised concerns about public safety and raises questions about the use of masks in public demonstrations. The BBC’s (reporter’s name) has the latest on this developing story.
On 9th April 2023, the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) organised an Easter Rising parade in West Belfast, showcasing a masked colour party. However, this event has come under scrutiny from the police, who are investigating it for potential offences under the Terrorism Act. Parade participants were issued with warnings, and footage was gathered to aid the investigation.
According to Ass Ch Con Bobby Singleton, most parades in Northern Ireland go by without any incident, but this particular parade has raised concerns. As part of the protocol, a report on the parade will be sent to the Parades Commission.
The National Graves Association Easter Rising parade attracted thousands of people who lined the Falls Road in West Belfast to witness the procession. The parade made its way from Beechmount Avenue to Milltown Cemetery, where Sinn Féin MP John Finucane delivered an address.
In his speech, Finucane emphasised the demand for Irish freedom and commended the republican activists of Belfast for their contributions. He also acknowledged the pain and trauma many families carry from the tragic loss during the conflict from all armed groups. However, Finucane went on to criticise the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) for using the Northern Ireland Protocol “to boycott the political institutions” at Stormont. He further stated that the DUP saw Brexit as an opportunity to harden the Irish border and urged them to recognise their failure and work towards representing those who elected them within the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement.
Meanwhile, the Republic of Ireland marked the 107th anniversary of the Easter Rising with a ceremony on O’Connell Street in Dublin. Irish President Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar and Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin led the event.
The Easter Rising was an armed rebellion against British rule in Ireland in 1916, and it’s commemorated every year in Ireland as a significant event in the country’s history. However, the use of a masked colour party in the parade has raised concerns over potential offences under the Terrorism Act, and the investigation is ongoing.
