• An MP has said Northern Ireland has not done enough to foster reconciliation and unity.
• Stephen Farry of the Alliance Party was speaking following the weekend’s events.
• Larne FC suspended midfielder John Herron after photographs emerged of him wearing a t-shirt with a pro-IRA message.

Recent incidences of “casual sectarianism,” according to one MP, demonstrate that Northern Ireland has not done enough to foster reconciliation and unity.

Stephen Farry of the Alliance Party was speaking following the weekend’s events.

The son of a man killed on Bloody Sunday condemned the sale of paramilitary and Parachute Regiment flags during a Londonderry march as a “insult.”

On Sunday night, there were reports of pro-IRA shouting at a Wolfe Tones concert.

On Friday evening, a mural depicting a burning police Land Rover was unveiled in west Belfast, prompting considerable condemnation.

Larne FC suspended midfielder John Herron on Monday after photographs emerged of him wearing a t-shirt with a pro-IRA message at a concert over the weekend.

“We have shown that we are an inclusive football club for all, demonstrated not only in words but also by our extensive work in the local community,” read the club statement.

“There is no room for behaviour which falls outside of this ethos and we fully expect members, players and anyone associated with the club to reflect these standards at all times.”

“It is almost like we are seeing some form of casual sectarianism and it is particularly disturbing to see it manifesting through young people,” said Mr Farry.

“We have had a real spate of these incidents over the summer and particularly this weekend.

“It does point to the fact that 25 years on from the Good Friday Agreement we have to have that sober lesson that we as a society haven’t done enough in terms of reconciliation and building integration.

“Divisions are very stark still in our society.”

The incidents in west Belfast, according to Emma Little-Pengelly, a Democratic Unionist Party Stormont assembly member, do not reflect “the Northern Ireland that we want in 2022.”

“You have thousands and thousands of people chanting things and glorifying the IRA and their activities,” she said.

“Any glorification of terrorism is wrong and it must be stamped out.

“All political leaders and all public representatives, no matter what side or community they come from, need to call out all forms of glorification of terrorism.

“They must agree that it must not happen and agree that there must be sensitivity for all victims.”

[embedpost slug=”man-stabbed-and-killed-near-londons-oxford-street/”]