Restriction for Ardoyne residents' march

Published Friday, 08 July 2011
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A parade by the Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective will not be allowed on Belfast's Crumlin Road at the same time as Orangemen on the Twelfth of July, the Parades Commission has ruled.

GARC members had applied to hold their own parade at the north Belfast interface at the same time as bandsmen return from demonstrations across the city.

The watchdog said they can hold their parade on Tuesday night, but imposed restrictions on their route.

Nationalist residents will be allowed to protest along Berwick Road and Estoril Park to the junction of Estoril Park and Balholm Drive between 7pm and 9pm.

A Twelfth of July Orange order parade will process on the Crumlin Road at the same time.

The Parades Commission said it considered the "threats of disorder and the potential injuries that could result from that" before making its determination on Friday.

"Should the (GARC) parade process without restriction, there will be an adverse effect on already fragile community relations and potential for public disorder", it said.

No-one from the GARC was available for comment on Friday.

Last week, the watchdog gave the Orange Order the go-ahead to march past the Ardoyne shopfronts on the Twelfth of July - but with restrictions.

It ruled that the Ligoniel True Blues will pass the flashpoint near the Crumlin Road with no music, no flying of flags, and no supporters on its return leg.

On Friday, DUP leader Peter Robinson hit out at the decision, saying the Parades Commission was "overstepping the mark".

"Regrettably over the last few months we have seen a step-change in the interference and authoritarian attitude of the Parades Commission.

"On the Crumlin Road, the Commission has determined that the Union Flag, our national flag, must be furled whilst the parade passes that section of road. This is unacceptable and intolerable.

"Moreover the parade must pass in absolute silence and even a single drumbeat is not permissible. Years of engagement by the North and West Belfast Parades Forum have been dismissed and republican violence has been rewarded."

On Friday night, Grand Secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Drew Nelson appealed for people to remain calm over the next few days.

"I believe that these determinations by the Parades Commission have heightened tensions amongst our community," he said.

"Any disturbances over the next few days surrounding our parades will not be in the interests of the Orange Institution."

Last year violent clashes erupted and police came under attack during four nights of serious sectarian rioting in the area.

Shots were fired, petrol bombs thrown and cars were hijacked and set alight.

Among the worst of the trouble, a female police officer was badly injured when a concrete block was dropped on her head.

Chief Constable Matt Baggott told UTV he was apprehensive but hopeful ahead of the Ardoyne parades.

Earlier this week, over 20 men were sentenced for their part in the violence in the area last July.

© UTV News
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11 Comments
truth in ards wrote (320 days ago):
lets face it the only reason they want to parade the same time as the orangemen is to cause trouble, but they have not the guts to admit this?i am sure that the vast majority of decent people in ardoyne dont want them?
Peaceloveandreconciliation in Norn Iron wrote (320 days ago):
We can only make peace with our enemies. Working together is better than fighting.Jaw,Jaw not war,war.Education is the key.Please, lets stop fighting over petty things and try for prosperity for all.
Joan in Newry wrote (321 days ago):
THE ORANGE ORANGE ORDER ALWAYS WAS A SECTERIAN ASSOCIATION, IT WAS ORGINALLY CALLED PEEP ODAY BOYS. DOES THIS ORANGE ORDER WHICH IS ANTI IRELAND ANTI POPE ETC REPRESENT ALL THE ANGICAN AND PROTESTANTS CHURCHES HERE. IT IS NOT ELECTED NOR EVEN A CHURCH. NOW WITH COST OF POLICING IN THE NOW RECESSION, IS THIS CONCIDERED AT ALL. IS THIS ABOUT PEACE OR DOMMINING NATIONLISTS AND THOSE OF CATHOLICS FAITH. WHAT COUNTRY COULD PUT UP WITH ORANGE ORDER TOO MANY MARCHES ALL SUMMER WHICH IS REALLY DOMMINATING NATIONLISTS AREAS ANOYING PEOPLE TO THEIR PEACEFUL AREAS CAUSING ILLFEELINGS TENSION LEADING TO VIOLENCE, ONE WOULD CONCIDER IN LAW IS THIS NOT AN SECTERIAN ORGISATION, IS IT FOR WORKING CLASS PEOPLE, FAIR WAGES AND CONDITIONS, NO IT WAS FOR KEEPING THE RICH IN POWER AT YOUR EXPENCE ALSO IT STOOD FOR BRITISH EMPIRE IS MY UNDERSTANDINGS DUCTUMENTED, DOES IT PRACTICE LOVE OF THEIR NEIGHBOURS DOES IT NOT PREACH HATERATE OF THE POPE AND OFFENCIVE TO MANY PEOPLE. Is this acceptable to right thinking people, no one is denied their indevidual creed here. one does always have to agree with every teachings, and issues and have interchurch discusions. many churches agree to disagree on issues but they do not cause bad relationships, the second new commandment is love thy neighbour in scripture.
PM in Belfast wrote (321 days ago):
Again Sinn Fein/G.A.R.G. showing their intolerance and 'Sectarian Bigotry' towards the Protestants that live in the Ardoyne area.
BIG BILL in belfast wrote (321 days ago):
can someone tell me did garc give the compulsory 28 days notice for their march on the 12th july, somehow i dont think so,why dont the orange order lend them some collarettes and let them join in
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