Apprentice Boys of Derry and Shankill Star Flute Band NOT WELCOME

Shankill Star's Main Drum

The decision by the Apprentice Boys of Derry (ABOD) Ligoniel Walker Club to have the Shankill Star Flute Band accompany it through Ardoyne on August 14th is nothing short of an affront to the memory, family and friends of Paddy McKenna. Their inclusion also causes grave offense to residents across greater Ardoyne who held Paddy in high esteem. As well as, many other families in this community who also suffered the loss of much loved relatives killed by the UVF.


The same band also marched through Ardoyne alongside the Walker Club in December last year. After the highly-discredited Parades Commission incredibly permitted the parade past the spot where Paddy McKenna was shot dead by Robinson. At the time, Nationalist Politicans, Resident Groups including GARC, local media outlets and the McKenna family strongly criticised the insensitivity of the march.

Sectarian killer and Orange Order member, Robinson killed respected Ardoyne resident, Paddy McKenna in September, 1989. While he helped a friend open her shop on the Crumlin Road. Soon after the murder, Robinson was shot and killed and a UVF collegue injured after their motor-cycle was rammed by the SAS a short distance away.

The Star's Badge

On its official website, the band states its tagline; ‘For God and Ulster’, a UVF slogan and also states; ‘In memory of Brian Robinson’. One of its Blog posts state; ‘Where our music is welcome, we shall play loud; where our music is challenged, we shall play it louder’. Here is the Internet link; http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=1458692562

The band regularly displays Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and Young Citizens Volunteers (YCV) flags or standards that glorify the two Loyalist paramilitary organisations responsible for the murder of many Ardoyne residents. However, the most insulting aspect of this band is that it commemorates the UVF murderer on the side of their main drum.

UVF Flags

If the insensitive Parades Commission allow this march the blame for unwelcome violence lies fully with those marching where they are cleary not wanted. It will also be with those who permit this act of bigotry and the PSNI who will force it through our community, against the wishes of an overwhelming majority of Ardoyne residents.

On behalf of those residents, the Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective (GARC) stress that the Apprentice Boys of Derry and the Shankill Star Flute Band are not welcome in our community. Their insistence on marching through our area is an insult and we strongly demand both organisations withdraw their contention to march.