
DUP urge ‘respect for neighbours' grief' after loyalist band mocked death of Pope Francis
Latest |
The DUP has urged people to be 'respectful of their neighbours' grief' in the wake of a loyalist band mocking the death of Pope Francis at an Apprentice Boys parade in Lisburn.
Footage from the event on Monday showed the Pride of Knockmore Flute Band playing 'No Pope of Rome'.
Lyrics to the song include: 'No, no Pope of Rome, no chapels to sadden my eyes, no nuns and no priests, no Rosary beads, every day is the 12th of July'.
The incident came hours after 88-year-old Pope Francis died.
On Wednesday the DUP said: 'The Apprentice Boys should be commended for their parade in Lisburn on Easter Monday.
"The distasteful actions by a few should not taint the entire event nor everyone there.
"We urge people to be respectful of their neighbours' grief.'
SDLP councillor Pat Catney said people living in Lisburn are fed up with division and sectarianism, citing recent incidents, including threats and intimidation at a new housing development.
Mr Catney said: 'Every year as we approach the summer months it's the same old predictable activity which leads to increased tensions in our community.
"In the past week alone we have seen threats and intimidation at a new housing estate and disrespect at a band parade following the passing of Pope Francis. These are far from the only incidents of this nature I have been dealing with.
'The vast majority of people living in this area totally reject this kind of behaviour and just want to live peacefully alongside their neighbours in the spirit of respect and tolerance.
'Lisburn is an increasingly diverse place and the last thing anyone wants to see is actions like this that drag us back to the past.'
Lagan Valley MP Sorcha Eastwood condemned the actions of the band.
'It is so distressing that this happened – it is really hurtful to many across our shared community in Lagan Valley and further afield,' she said.
'It is offensive and unacceptable at any time, but particularly on the day that the Pope passed away.
'This is not behaviour that is representative of our town or indeed many of the bands participating who do not want to be associated with this sort of completely unacceptable conduct and hate.
'Lagan Valley is a shared community and we will push back against this sort of regressive intolerance.'
Alliance MLA David Honeyford also criticised the actions of the band members.
'It's really disappointing to hear of this provocative and insensitive behaviour yesterday. This would have been disrespectful at anytime, but is especially on the day of the Pope's passing,' he said.
'Those involved are not representative of the vast majority of people out on Monday, on what should have been a good day, and this is not representative of the Lisburn and the wider area.'
Up to 50 bands and 6,000 participants took part in the annual Apprentice Boys parade on Monday.
Several DUP politicians shared posts from the parade, though there is no suggestion they were present when the offensive song was played.
DUP MP for Upper Bann Carla Lockhart said: 'Great to see so many Apprentice Boys, bands and supporters. The atmosphere was first class with the entire route lined with thousands of people enjoying the day.'
Education Minister Paul Givan shared an image of himself shaking hands with one of the participants at the parade.
He said: 'A fabulous day in Lisburn as we hosted the Apprentice Boys of Derry in Lisburn. A fantastic parade with thousands out showing their support.'
On Monday morning, DUP leader Gavin Robinson expressed his condolences following the Pope's passing.
He said: 'Pope Francis was held in deep affection by many in Northern Ireland. We extend our respectful sympathies to all those grieving his passing.
'While many within the unionist community may hold different theological views, it is important to recognise the profound respect and admiration that many of our fellow countrymen and women had for the humble caretaker who entered the priesthood and died as the head of the Roman Catholic church.
'At this moment, we acknowledge their sorrow and offer our sincere condolences."
The Pride of Knockmore Flute Band, the DUP and the Apprentice Boys of Derry have been contacted.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Belfast Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Over £50,000 worth of gifts and hospitality offered to Executive ministers in first year of Stormont return
revealed | Northern Ireland's Executive ministers were offered gifts and hospitality totalling more than £50,000 during their first year back at Stormont, data has revealed. The Assembly returned in February 2024 following a two-year hiatus after DUP ministers withdrew over objections to the NI Protocol arrangements for the UK's withdrawal from the EU.


Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
John Swinney in the firing line after allowing education secretary to swerve parliamentary duties DESPITE school crisis
Ministers have faced increased scrutiny over their response to soaring levels of violence in schools NO SHOW John Swinney in the firing line after allowing education secretary to swerve parliamentary duties DESPITE school crisis JOHN Swinney let Jenny Gilruth dodge a grilling on school violence. We can reveal the First Minister signed off the SNP Education Secretary's absence two months before the Holyrood Q&A on the classroom crisis. Advertisement 3 Jenny Gilruth was out campaigning for the SNP 3 First Minister John Swinney MSP at the Scottish Parliament It was scheduled on the same day a 12-year-girl was rushed to hospital after an alleged stabbing at a school in Aberdeen. Ms Gilruth instead posed for a selfie while campaigning in her Mid-Fife and Glenrothes seat. Emails showed parliamentary business minister Jamie Hepburn was also involved her free pass on April 24. Colleague Graeme Dey instead stepped in. Advertisement It was the first education questions for five weeks as MSPs returned from their Easter holidays. Ministers have faced increased scrutiny over their response to soaring levels of violence in schools. There are also concerns about an ongoing funding crisis at top Scottish universities. Last night Tory education spokesman Miles Briggs claimed ministers would 'do anything to avoid being held to account.' Advertisement He added: 'It's scandalous that even John Swinney was in on this, turning a blind eye to his education secretary missing important parliamentary questions to campaign.' A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'Diary commitments meant the Education Secretary was unable to attend portfolio questions. Jenny Gilruth accused of 'playing truant' after her parliament no-show "In line with rules, the Higher Education Minister answered questions.' 3 John Swinney and Jenny Gilruth


The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
May jobs report shows 139,000 jobs were added last month
Before the report's release, economists surveyed by Bloomberg estimated that 125,000 jobs were added last month. Job gains for March and April were revised down by a combined 95,000, portraying a weaker labor market that believed in late winter and early spring. March's total was downgraded from 185,000 to 120,000 and April's, from 177,000 to 147,000. Is the job market good or bad right now? The labor market has held up remarkably well despite the hurdles posed by Trump's economic policies, with employment gains averaging well over 100,000 a month so far this year. But many forecasters reckoned a more pronounced hiring slowdown took shape in May and would intensify in the months ahead. Trump's trade strategy lies at the center of the projected downshift. He paused the high double-digit tariffs he slapped on dozens of countries in April and in May agreed to slash levies on Chinese imports from 145% to a still-elevated 30%. China agreed to broadly similar concessions. But the moves hinge on further U.S. deals with China and other countries. And 25% tariffs remain in effect on all imported cars and many goods from Canada and Mexico. This week, Trump hiked fees on steel and aluminum imports to 50% from 25%. And while a trade court last month struck down many of Trump's tariffs, they remain in effect during an appeal, prolonging the uncertainty for businesses. Economists expect the duties to reignite inflation within a month or two and dampen consumer spending. The costs also have heightened business uncertainty, curtailing hiring and investment. How many federal employees are laid off? The Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency has cut as many as 120,000 federal jobs but many workers have been placed on administrative leave, leaving them on U.S. payrolls pending court cases, Morgan Stanley said in a report. Still, the reductions have started to filter into the jobs numbers. Goldman Sachs estimates federal employment declined by a relatively modest 10,000 in May, adding to the 26,000 government workers that Capital Economics says already have been chopped since February. Are there still immigrants coming to America? Besides toughening enforcement at the southern border, the administration has canceled or declined to renew work permits and other protections for hundreds of thousands of migrants, economist Lydia Boussour of EY-Parthenon wrote in a note to clients. That will likely mean a smaller labor supply that further constrains hiring, especially in industries such as construction and hospitality, she said. Some calendar quirks also could have suppressed employment last month. For technical reasons, a late Easter likely boosted payrolls in April but heralds a lower tally for May as staffing levels returned to normal, Morgan Stanley said. Yet while hiring generally has slowed, other economists figured job growth remained sturdy last month as companies frustrated by labor shortages during the pandemic continued to curtail layoffs. Capital Economics and Barclays both predicted 150,000 jobs gains for May. By the end of the year, however, Barclays believes tariffs, federal layoffs and immigration curbs will slow average monthly job gains to about 75,000.