THE PARADES Commission has appealed for a peaceful protest and parade past the Ardoyne shops in north Belfast today after a residents’ group blamed for stoking the street violence in Ardoyne on July Twelfth said it would “again take to the streets” today.
One of the loyal orders, the Royal Black Preceptory, is this morning due to complete a feeder parade past the Ardoyne flashpoint, despite protests from a residents’ group, the Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective, which is viewed as sympathetic to dissident republicans.
Members of the collective staged a sit-down protest in the middle of the Crumlin Road at the Ardoyne shops on July 12th, while some other of its members allegedly were involved in fomenting trouble during the four days of rioting at Ardoyne on the week of the Twelfth.
The Parades Commission has given permission for the Royal Black parade to pass by the shops with 40 members and one band, the loyalist Pride of the Ardoyne, which also has about 40 members. They must not play music or display any bannerettes while marching in the area, the commission ruled.
The Royal Black Preceptory criticised the ruling. The Crumlin and Ardoyne Residents’ Association, which is supported by Sinn Féin, took court action seeking to have the ruling overturned.
The commission gave the association permission to hold a protest while the parade passes by, with 75 residents allowed to stand on each side of the road.
The commission urged that all sides work to ensure a peaceful outcome this morning.
What has caused concern for the PSNI and the commission though is a statement from the residents’ collective warning of protests at Ardoyne this morning.
“In response to this inconsiderate determination, the Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective will again take to the streets in opposition, and ask our protesters to do so in a peaceful and dignified manner,” it said. A similar call had been made on July 12th.
The parade is due to take place at 7.45am. The police hope the early start will produce a low turnout of protesters, and that the police will be able to contain them.
In a separate development, the Parades Commission has eased a restriction it made on the Royal Black parade in east Belfast today. Bands were instructed not to play any music while passing St Matthew’s Catholic Church and the nationalist Short Strand.
In recent years, according to the commission, they breached the instruction only to play “respectful” music at the Short Strand, and no music at the church.
However, following representations from local DUP Assembly members Robin Newton and Lord Browne, and Ulster Unionist councillor Jim Rogers, the commission agreed to the band playing “respectful” music past Short Stand and a single drum beat at the church – on the assurance from the politicians that the bands would observe this ruling.