No Limavady RIR homecoming parade

RIR soldiers will not have a homecoming parade in Limavady

Royal Irish Regiment soldiers who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq will not have a homecoming parade in Limavady.

A motion calling for a parade was put forward by Councillor George Robinson, DUP. But it was defeated on Tuesday by Sinn Fein and the SDLP.

Michael Coyle, SDLP, said: "The public might think the SDLP were backing the invasion of these countries."

However, Mr Robinson said he was disappointed that it "boiled down to a sectarian vote".

"At the end of the day the people that were serving out there come from both communities," he said.

Mr Coyle said that they were conscious of risks people have taken in fighting, but the SDLP had other concerns.

"We were more worried about a war in Iraq not being the correct thing for the invading countries."