Murder march hits a sour note
Thursday, 9 February 2012
Out of step? The decision to mark the third anniversary of the Massereene murders with a major band parade has divided opinion, with some favouring a cross-community event, like the one held in the immediate aftermath of the atrocity.
Critics of a major band parade on the third anniversary of the Massereene atrocity have accused the organisers of marching over the graves of the slain soldiers.
Upwards of 30 bands are due in Antrim on March 7, and thousands are expected to join the procession to the gates of the barracks where Sappers Patrick Azimkar and Mark Quinsey were brutally murdered in 2009.
The Antrim and District Marching Bands' Forum have promised an 'inclusive event' which will give the wider community the opportunity 'to join together and unite in one voice to show continued support for the families of servicemen and women'.
Others, however, fear that the event could achieve what the Massereene killers failed to do - and drive a wedge between the two communities.
In the immediate aftermath of the outrage the people of Antrim stood together as one in defiance of the men of violence, and the emotional coming together of church congregations on that grim Sunday morning came to be seen as a symbol of hope following the senseless slayings.
“They really should pause and think about the impact this could have on the families of those who have lost loved ones," said SDLP Councillor Thomas Burns.
“Do they imagine that the families want those terrible events remembered by flutes and drums?"
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