Dialogue calls in Belfast parade row

Published Tuesday, 28 August 2012
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The DUP and Sinn Féin are calling for urgent dialogue to avoid a repeat of the trouble that marred a Royal Black Institution parade in Belfast city centre at the weekend.

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Politicians say they want to ensure that St Patrick's Church in Belfast does not become a flashpoint for trouble in the future.

A female officer was taken to hospital and treated for minor head injuries after disorder broke out in the Donegall Street area following the parade on Saturday.

Police officers in riot gear held back protesters and supporters as missiles, including bottles and stones, were thrown - after a loyalist band defied a Parades Commission ban to march past the Catholic Church.

It came after the Young Conway Volunteers were filmed playing a song alleged to be sectarian outside the church on the Twelfth of July.

An Orange Order parade is due to take place through the same area next month.

The Ulster Covenant Centenary parade, expected to be the biggest Loyal Order parade ever held in Northern Ireland, will take place on 29 September.

North Belfast DUP MP Nigel Dodds says the unionist community is angry at "the illogical, bizarre, erratic decisions of the Parades Commission, which is deeply hostile to the Loyal Orders".

In an open letter to the Secretary of State, senior unionist politicians came together to demand that Owen Paterson replaces the watchdog.

"The anger that is out there in the Unionist community is palpable," Mr Dodds said.

"And something has got to be done about that. But in no shape or form are people running away from the issue. It needs to be addressed and that can be done through dialogue."

Local Sinn Féin Councillor Conor Maskey says the Orange Order needs to talk directly to residents.

The party also plans to meet with the Parades Commission in the coming weeks.

"Our initial priority is to get face-to-face dialogue between the Loyal Orders and the residents.

"That's our first step. Now, let's see how that works. If that doesn't happen, then we're into a different ball game. A ball game that says the Orders don't wish to treat people with respect and dignity," Mr Maskey told UTV.

The SDLP met with the Parades Commission on Tuesday.

"We encouraged the Parades Commission to ensure its authority is pursued through prosecution, through the PSNI and the PPS, of those engaged in such naked sectarianism and to engage, where necessary, with dialogue with the Orange Orders and residents to address the upcoming September 29 parade," Justice spokesperson Alban Maginness said.

© UTV News
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6 Comments
Cynical in Belfast wrote (267 days ago):
Yes, it is time for dialogue and time to deal with the parading issue for once and for all. Time to get it off the public roads and into private venues, where the minority on both sides, who insist on inflicting it on the rest of us can be made charge entry fees to cover ALL the costs involved. Maybe they will then discover how unpopular they really are!!! PS before you ask... Yes I mean ALL parades, orange, black, green, gay, loyalist, republican, the LOT!!!
Linda in NI wrote (268 days ago):
I hope the injured police officers make a speady recovery everyone is debating who has done what but I dont see much concern for the police officers who are caught in the middle of stupid decisions. If Sinn Fein want to encourage talks & understanding they could start by moderating their own language
Lorcán in lorcanmckee@gmail.com wrote (269 days ago):
Why can't I watch this video when I'm here in America? I can watch all the useless news about people finding Jesus in trees but not this. Is this the truth you don't want the world to know?
John in and wrote (269 days ago):
The parades commission with there biased rulings are a spent force, after saturday's parade there position has become utenable, and they should realize, no longer will the loyal orders entertain or abide by there farcical rulings designed to facilitate one community and demonize another, and Mr Maskey had better get the bigger picture the Loyal orders have never spoke to republicans before and it will no doubt be the same in the future and why should they speak to a party who supported the IRA and there murders of its members,or maybe he has forgot the massacre of pensioners at TullYvallen Orange Hall WHILE AT PRAYER.
Susan in Belfast wrote (269 days ago):
For many, many years the protestant / loyalist traditions have been under attack and intimidation from people who cry "dialogue". These people are only happy to hear what "dialogue" they want to hear and of course on their terms. They are never going to compromise, why would they, when government bodies such as The Parades Commission dictate to protestant / loyalist people when, where and how they can celebrate their culture. The members of the parades commision should be held accountable for any disorder that occurs, when they pubicise the ridiculous rulings they hand down and also giving permission to the oposition, allowing so called "peaceful protests" to take place only minutes and metres away! We only have to look at what happened in Ardoyne on the 12/07/12, after the loyal orders adhered to the Parades commissions rulings...........How do these law abiding citizens and public representatives defend this defiant, antisocial and criminal behaviour on those occasions or is it still the fault of the protestant people wanting to celebrate their culture?
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