Apprentice Boys parade banned

The Parades Commission has banned an Apprentice Boys parade from passing through the mainly nationalist Ardoyne district of north Belfast next Saturday.

In its determination, the Commission said it had taken into account the "considerable anger" felt among nationalists following last month's Orange Order parade which resulted in serious disturbances between local residents and security forces.

However, a spokesperson for the Apprentice Boys in Belfast, said that the threat of republican violence had once again "paid off".

Today's decision, the spokesperson said, had "wider implications for society here and the peace process when we see that the republican movement does not want a Prod about the place".

The Ligoniel Walkers Club and an accompanying band had originally applied to parade past local shops before boarding buses for the main demonstration in Londonderry on August 14.

The request and route is similar to that taken by the Orange Order on July 12 which led to serious riots between security forces and nationalist residents.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has appealed to the Apprentice Boys to look sensibly at the situation and avoid any possible confrontation claiming residents in Ardoyne were still angry following last month's events.

However, Apprentice Boys spokesman William Hay called on nationalists to change their attitudes and to confront the issue with a different attitude.

(MB)