Ulster Unionist Upper Bann Assembly candidate and former Lurgan Councillor, Kyle Savage, has called on Dolores Kelly to publicly apologise for her comments during the build up to the annual Easter Monday demonstration by the Apprentice Boys of Derry that took place in Lurgan this afternoon. The parade - which passed off without incident - had drawn comments from Mrs Kelly who was quoted describing it as “provocative” and “nothing more than a coat-trailing exercise”.
Kyle Savage said:
"It was a pleasure to take part in the Apprentice Boys parade in Lurgan today. As predicted by my party colleagues and I, there was never any chance that the Apprentice Boys were coming to Lurgan to stir up tensions. Instead, they did what they do every Easter Monday; they enjoyed a family day out and expressed their culture and tradition in the most dignified manner.
“I would now call on Dolores Kelly to withdraw her previous comments regarding this parade and apologise to the Apprentice Boys.
“Any negativity should be saved for those deserving of it, such as the morons who now continue to riot in Kilwilkie, those who block the railway line and those who took part in an illegal paramilitary show of strength in the area on Saturday afternoon.
“Dolores would do well to focus on those who break the law, rather than those who abide by it.”