£34k spent policing loyalist parades in Strabane

The cost of policing loyalist parades in the Strabane area over the bulk of the marching season this year was £33,982.60.
The Red Hand Defenders Flute Band, Newtownstewart. INLS5013-166KMThe Red Hand Defenders Flute Band, Newtownstewart. INLS5013-166KM
The Red Hand Defenders Flute Band, Newtownstewart. INLS5013-166KM

The PSNI released details of the cost of policing fifty parades across the district between April and September.

Eleven of the parades listed took place in Donemana, two in Strabane, three in Sion Mills, fifteen in Castlederg and eleven in Newtownstewart.

Parades at Plumbridge, Barron, Killeter and Killen also resulted in policing costs.

The most expensive parade was one organised on May 2, 2014, in Newtownstewart by the ‘Red Hand Defenders Flute Band.’ This cost £4,547.23.

The second most expensive to police was listed as the ‘Royal Black Institution Main Demo’ on August 30, 2014 in Donemana. This cost £3,431.73.

Three other parades breached the £2,000 mark.

These were: a parade on September 20, 2014, which was organised by ‘Castlederg Young Loyalists’ and which is listed as having cost £2,993.68; the Twelfth in Castlederg, which was organised by ‘Killen District LOL No. 12,’ and which cost £2,684.50; and a Somme parade on July 1, in Killen, which was organised by the same lodge and which is listed as having cost £2,145.46

Six other parades cost over £1,000 to police.

Some, however, incurred minimal policing costs.

For instance, an August 30 feeder parade in Donemana, where the organiser was listed by the PSNI as ‘Barron RBP No. 522’ was listed as having cost just £8.25 to police.

Another low cost parade was the Strawletterdallion LOL Twelfth parade in Newtownstewart, which is listed as having cost just £16.50 to police.

The other parades ranged in cost between £24.75 and £925.50.