A tricolour flying next to the Church of Ireland church on Dungiven’s Main Street.
Gregory Campbell has been accused of being “hypocritical” over his comments about the erection flags in Dungiven ahead of two hunger strike commemorations in the town this weekend.
The East Derry DUP MP has accused republicans of “upping the ante” claiming the erection of a number of flags, including the Irish tricolour close to a Protestant church and graveyard on the town’s Main Street was a “deliberate attempt” to intimidate the minority Protestant population in the predominantly nationslist Co Derry town.
Mr Campbell has called for the removal of the flags, adding not to so would be an “outrage.”
Eleven bands and up to 1,000 people are expected to take part in a parade through the town this evening organised by the Kevin Lynch Memorial Flute Band.
The band, along with the James Connolly Memorial Flute Band, will parade in the town at lunchtime tomorrow.
Both events have been organised to commemorate the death of Kevin Lynch, from Dungiven who was one of the 10 hunger strikers who died in Long Kesh in 1981.
He died on 1 August, the 71st day of his protest.
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Ó hOisín said Mr Campbell’s comments “only highlight the hypocrisy” of the DUP on the issue.
Dungiven INLA man Kevin Lynch who died on hunger strike in Long Kesh in 1981.
Mr Ó hOisín said: “The comments by Gregory Campbell on the erection of flags in Dungiven have been shown to be hypocritical given the fact that his own village is festooned with flags.
‘The flags in Dungiven have been erected to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of local man Kevin Lynch who died on hunger strike and have not been put up to cause offence.
“In fact young people have removed any flags that could have been deemed as offensive and I would commend their actions.
“While I would never advocate the flying of the national flag from a lamp post I have been assured that these flags as in previous years will be removed again soon after the commemorations finish.
“This is in stark contrast to the many flags including Unionist paramilitary and Parachute Regiment flags designed to intimidate and offend the local Derry population who travel that road to Belfast.
“These flags that have been fluttering outside Gregory’s home for the past few months are now larger and more numerous than previous years yet Gregory has remained silent on those.
“We also need to realise that the DUP rejected the Haass proposals in dealing with flags and emblems and recently walked out of a Stormont meeting designed to deal with the issue.
“If Gregory and the DUP are serious in addressing the issue of flags then they should return to the negotiating table where a deal can be thrashed out.”
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