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09/08/2002
Parades Commission stands by Apprentice Boys decision
The Parades Commission last night ruled to stand by its decision over the planned parade by the Ligoniel Walker Club tomorrow morning.
This followed an appeal by two north Belfast Sinn Fein councillors, Margaret McClenaghan and Eoin O'Broin, yesterday morning that the parade should be barred from processing by the Ardoyne shops and sections of the Woodvale Road and Crumlin Road.
The commission said that since the original decision on the Walker Club parade on August 1, it had received appeals from the local community – including the Bogside Residents' Group – in addition to meeting with the Sinn Fein delegation.
The commission reported that councillors McClenaghan and O'Broin contended that the original decision was flawed in respect of the assertion that parade organisers had demonstrated "a commitment to dialogue and engagement". Sinn Fein argued that this opinion was not born out by "either facts or recent legal judgements".
The Sinn Fein representatives also said that tensions within the local community had increased as a result of sectarian attacks, and raised concerns that there was potential for disorder given the heightened tensions in the area.
The commission, however, stated that "genuine engagement" had been made by the parade organisers, and: "Having considered all the available information against the factors contained in its guidelines document, the commission has decided that its determination of 1 August made in respect of the above parade stands unchanged."
Margaret McClenaghan slammed the commission's decision saying, it would be "unheard of in any other part of the world".
However, a prominent member of the Apprentice Boys said that the contentious sections of the route not exclusively nationalist and the Apprentice Boys would "seek to cause offence to no one". He appealed to nationalists to "equally abide by the decision", and added that as the parade would disperse by 9.30am, there would be minimal interruption to the wider community.
Saturday's demonstrations are the centrepiece of the Apprentice Boys marching calendar, commemorating the relief of the siege of Londonderry.
(GMcG)
This followed an appeal by two north Belfast Sinn Fein councillors, Margaret McClenaghan and Eoin O'Broin, yesterday morning that the parade should be barred from processing by the Ardoyne shops and sections of the Woodvale Road and Crumlin Road.
The commission said that since the original decision on the Walker Club parade on August 1, it had received appeals from the local community – including the Bogside Residents' Group – in addition to meeting with the Sinn Fein delegation.
The commission reported that councillors McClenaghan and O'Broin contended that the original decision was flawed in respect of the assertion that parade organisers had demonstrated "a commitment to dialogue and engagement". Sinn Fein argued that this opinion was not born out by "either facts or recent legal judgements".
The Sinn Fein representatives also said that tensions within the local community had increased as a result of sectarian attacks, and raised concerns that there was potential for disorder given the heightened tensions in the area.
The commission, however, stated that "genuine engagement" had been made by the parade organisers, and: "Having considered all the available information against the factors contained in its guidelines document, the commission has decided that its determination of 1 August made in respect of the above parade stands unchanged."
Margaret McClenaghan slammed the commission's decision saying, it would be "unheard of in any other part of the world".
However, a prominent member of the Apprentice Boys said that the contentious sections of the route not exclusively nationalist and the Apprentice Boys would "seek to cause offence to no one". He appealed to nationalists to "equally abide by the decision", and added that as the parade would disperse by 9.30am, there would be minimal interruption to the wider community.
Saturday's demonstrations are the centrepiece of the Apprentice Boys marching calendar, commemorating the relief of the siege of Londonderry.
(GMcG)
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