SF urge Parades Commission to review Ligoniel decision

A Sinn Fein delegation has petitioned the Parades Commission this morning to reverse its decision allowing a contentious Apprentice Boys of Derry parade along a nationalist interface on Saturday.

During the 20-minute meeting, north Belfast councillors Margaret McClenaghan and Eoin O'Broin put their case for re-routing the Ligoniel Walker Club parade away from the Ardoyne shops and sections of the Crumlin Road. The Sinn Fein representatives believe that the parade would inflame tensions in an already volatile area.

The Parades Commission ruling on the matter is expected later today.

In its ruling last week, the Commission said that it was "appalled" at the unrest following the Orange parade which passed the Ardoyne shop on July 12. However, it believes that the Ligoniel Walker Club parade has "no such history" and the committee were confident that organisers have demonstrated a commitment to dialogue and engagement, together with a high standard of parade management.

As it stands, the parade will go ahead on Saturday morning with the some conditions attached, which include no music being played between the junction of Crumlin Road and Hesketh Road and the junction of Woodvale Parade and Woodvale Road. It also stipulated that no followers should accompany the parade on that part of the route.

Afterward the meeting, Councillor McClenaghan blamed the Apprentice Boys for a "lack of dialogue and engagement".

She added: "There has also been a deterioration in community relations in the north Belfast area with an upsurge in UDA violence within the past week.

"If the Parades Commission give this march the go-ahead it will amount to them rewarding the Apprentice Boys for their intransigence and will results in the Parades Commission actively stalling any future resolution of this issue."

It is expected that the parade will have around 50 participants with one accompanying band, and the organisers has been told to disperse the parade by 9.30am.

(GMcG)