Controversial republican parade taking place in Castlederg

The republican march was met with a protest demonstration by unionists and victims of the IRA

Hundreds of people are protesting at a controversial republican parade taking place in Castlederg, County Tyrone.

The Tyrone Volunteers Day Parade commemorates republicans who died during the Troubles, including two IRA men killed by their own bomb.

Several hundred bandsmen and republican supporters are taking part.

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers had urged organisers to call off the march, saying it was "causing great hurt" to victims of terrorism.

The parade, which is supported by Sinn Féin, began after 15:00 BST on Sunday and supporters clapped as it moved off.

Re-routed

The protesters, who included family members of IRA murder victims, held banners opposing the march.

The Parades Commission has placed restrictions on the march, which the parade organisers had already re-routed away from the town's war memorial.

At a newly built republican memorial in Castlederg, the names of dead republicans were read out to the marchers.

They included the names of the two IRA men, who died when the bomb they were transporting exploded prematurely in 1973.

Several hundred bandsmen and supporters are taking part in the Castlederg march

Both Ms Villiers and the police had appealed for calm ahead of the parade, after 56 police officers were injured during loyalist protests against a republican parade in Belfast on Friday evening.

'Tense'

Speaking ahead of the march, Ms Villiers said she knew "the deep pain this parade will cause the families of victims in West Tyrone area and the rest of Northern Ireland".

"All possible support must be given to the police in upholding the rule of law and acting to keep the community safe at this tense time," she added.

The march has angered many unionists and the Derg Valley Victims Voice said the parade would glorify terrorism and traumatise families affected by IRA violence.

However, Sinn Féin's Martin McGuiness has said people should "respect the right" of republicans in Tyrone to "an act of remembrance".

Mr McGuiness, who is not attending the Castlederg because he is on holiday, said this week: "I don't have any other reason to believe that Sunday will not be peaceful - it's not a celebration, it's an act of remembrance."