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DUP slams GAA club IRA commemoration
By Maeve Connolly

THE DUP has hit out at a Co Tyrone GAA club's decision to commemorate three IRA men killed in 1988. Derek Reaney. DUP candidate for west Tyrone, said the club's involvement called into question the organisation's claim to be "non sectarian and non political".
St Teresa's GAA club in Loughmacrory has held an annual commemoration for the IRA men shot in an SAS ambush and last month celebrated the 15th anniversary of their death.
It also holds a football tournament in memory of two of those killed who were members of the Co Tyrone club and this year's competition was for under-twelves.
Brothers Gerard and Martin Harte and 26-year-old Brian Mullin were shot dead in an SAS ambush on August 30 1988 in Cloughfin. Drumnakilly.
Gerard Harte (29) was a prominent member of St Teresa's GAA club in Loughmacrory and has been described as the commander of mid-Tyrone IRA. His 23-year-old brother Martin also belonged to the club.
The third man killed. Brian Mullin. was a brother-in-law of Martin Harte.
A soldier posing as a UDR man pretended to fix a tyre on a lorry while others lay in wait in the surrounding area on August 30.
As the IRA men approached, shots were fired and they were killed.
However, a 1993 inquest failed to establish who had opened fire first.
Their deaths have been commemorated annually and in last month's memorial a crowd of people walked from Loughmacrory village to the graveyard where the men are buried.
Former Sinn Fein assembly member for West Tyrone Barry McElduff said yesterday he had addressed the crowd at the graves.
However, the DUP's Mr Reaney has called on the GAA to clarify its position in relation to celebrating members of the IRA.
Mr Reaney said the Policing Board and Northern Ireland Office also needed to "address this issue".
"Recent legislation has been introduced which forces PSNI officers to declare their membership of a number of named organisations and yet the legislation excludes the GAA.
"While I am opposed to the introduction of this legislation as I believe it infringes on an individual's rights I feel that, in the interest of equality, that membership of the GAA should also be declared."
The GAA have rules covering party political alliances and sectarianism in the association.
Rule Eight states: "The association shall be non-party political. Party political questions shall not be discussed at its meetings and no committee, club, council or representative thereof shall take part as such in any party political movement. A penalty of up to six months suspension may be imposed for infringement."
While Rule Nine states: "The association shall be non-sectarian."

Berry sees red over orange

DUP Armagh councillor Paul Berry has condemned what he describes as "the provocative use of GAA regalia" in places of work and education. Mr Berry said he was speaking out after Being contacted by a number of concerned constituents. "The orange and white braiding on government vehicles operating in the community and the GAA shirts being worn in further and higher education establishments is a breach of policy and is basically a re-run of last year's events," he said.
"I have raised a number of issues with both schools and departments over incidents which have caused offence and I expect the situation to be rectified."
He said such regalia were offensive to members of the Protestant community.
"The GAA tops and regalia in the work and school environment are every bit
as concerning as a Celtic top and after liaisons with the Equality Commission on the other cases involving GAA regalia, the regulations
are clear." Mr Berry said. "No offence should be caused within an educational establishment or the work place through the display of emblems attached to one side of the community and likely to be offensive to the other."
Bimpe Fatogun

the Irish News Friday, 12 September 2003

UTV
TUESDAY 09/09/2003 15:01:40
Troops banned from wearing Football shirts

Soldiers in Northern Ireland have been banned from wearing Old Firm football shirts when off duty, it emerged today.
By:Press Association


Army chiefs said wearing the shirts of Glasgow football clubs Rangers and Celtic could be viewed as sectarian harassment.

Troops at Kinnegar Camp, near Belfast, were given the order following a complaint from a member of the public.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: ``The MoD advises all employees that the wearing of emblems which could be misconstrued as offensive should be avoided.

``This is good practice. The Fair Employment Code of Practice recommends that employers promote a good and harmonious working environment.

``Emblems linked directly to the community over the past 30 years and or local politics clearly have potential to cause disruption to that working environment.``

The move follows a complaint after a soldier was spotted wearing an Old Firm top while conducting physical training inside the barracks, in Hollywood, Co Down.

An Army spokesman said he did not know if the soldier had been wearing a Celtic or Rangers shirt at the logistics base, which is home to 900 personnel - 500 civilian staff and 400 troops from the Northern Ireland Combat Services Support Regiment.

In a memo, the camp adjutant said: ``Needless to say, this practice is to stop. Wearing these types of tops is considered offensive in some cases and can be construed as sectarian harassment in others.

``In the interests of neutrality, wearing neither Celtic nor Rangers tops means the Army can never be accused of favouring one element of the community over the other.

``Unfortunately this is one of those areas where the military, for good reasons, has to interfere with what the soldiers wear when off duty.``

The move comes after two Catholics wearing Celtic shirts were battered with golf clubs by a loyalist mob of 20, some wearing Rangers tops, in Lisburn, Co Antrim, in July.

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