The Orange Order says it has been saddened by some of the
comments made today by the Tanaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister)
Mary Harney.
"In her remarks, we understand that Mary Harney referred
to us as a sectarian organisation and we regret that in so
commenting she may have given a degree of justification to
those who rioted on Saturday," a spokesman for the Orange
Order said.
"The Orange Institution is composed of Protestants with
the aim of encouraging civil and religious liberty for all.
Those who organised violent opposition to the proposed parade
on Saturday (which was not, incidentally, organised by the
Orange Order) showed that they have no respect for civil and
religious liberty, and we do not believe that they reflect
the decent people of the Republic of Ireland,"
The spokesman said that there was a high sense of fear within
the Orange community in the Republic following the vicious
sectarian rioting in Dublin.
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