LISBURN'S Mayor Councillor Ronnie Crawford has said Lisburn would be 'deeply honoured' to host a homecoming parade for Royal Irish Regiment soldiers returning from duty in Aghanistan.
Lisburn's Mayor Ronnie Crawford
He said
it was understandable RIR members wanted the parade to take place in Belfast, Northern Ireland's capital city.
However, if this was not possible, he added, the Regiment could be sure of a warm welcome in the province's 'second largest city' led by its First Citizen.
"After all, Lisburn is the location of HQNI and 2008 is the 70th Anniversary of Thiepval Barracks, which has provided substantial economic benefits to the city during that time," he continued.
"I am confident that the people of Lisburn would delight in making such a homecoming parade an event for all to remember."
Mr. Crawford also pointed out the current Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Tom Hartley is a member of Sinn Fein and said he believed Mr. Hartley's Republican background would prevent him attending any parade by members of the British Army.
A spokesperson for Sinn Fein, however, was less definite on the matter.
He said Mr. Hartley was 'very aware of the British Army's record in Ireland' and pointed out his attendance or otherwise at such a parade remained a hypothetical situation as no parade had yet been arranged.
However, he also said the Lord Mayor had gone 'some way to reaching out to members of the Unionist community' and was using his year in office to continue to do so.
The full article contains 258 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
