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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Brendan Hughes

Loyalist parade barred from North Belfast interface over 'public disorder' fears

A loyalist parade has been barred from passing a North Belfast interface as it "risks serious public disorder".

Ballysillan Orange lodge planned to march on Saturday along Crumlin Road towards Woodvale Road and Enfield Street.

It would have passed the mainly nationalist Ardoyne area and Twaddell Avenue, where parading disputes in the past have sparked rioting and clashes with police.

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The Parades Commission has banned the march from most of its proposed route.

It ruled the parade must turn back along Crumlin Road upon reaching its junction with Wheatfield Gardens.

The commission said the planned parade was a "clear breach" of an agreement in 2016 between the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents' Association and three Ligoniel lodges which has reduced tensions.

It said: "It is a wanton disregard for the efforts made in acutely difficult circumstances to acheive a local agreement and an egregious disregard for the six years of peace it secured.

"It serves only to heighten tensions in a period of political instability and risks serious public disorder."

Imposing restrictions, the commission added: "In all the circumstances, the commission has cause to believe that should the parade process the entirety of its notified route without restriction, there will be an adverse effect on community relations and a potential for serious public disorder."

The commission continued to encourage all parties in the parading dispute to "enter into dialogue to achieve an accommodation which reflects the needs of the local communities".

Around 60 people and one band are due to take part in the march, which is scheduled to begin at 11.30am and is described as a "feeder parade" for the annual Whiterock parade.

The commission said that as part of the 2016 deal, CARA agreed to raise no objections to existing morning parades, of which there are five each year.

CARA raised concerns about Saturday's planned parade, saying it is a new march that breached the letter and spirit of their agreement.

The commission said it received no representations from the organiser or anyone on their behalf.

Sinn Féin North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly welcomed the Parades Commission ruling.

He said: "This parade was clearly in breach of an agreement in 2016 between the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents' Association and the three Ligoniel lodges which has brought almost seven years of peace to the Crumlin Road and eased community tensions.

"The Crumlin Ardoyne Residents' Association lodged an objection to this new parade and were supported by myself and other local Sinn Féin political representatives.

"I note that the Parades Commission has recognised that this contentious parade was in fact a breach of the agreement between the Ligoniel Orange lodges and the residents and I welcome the ruling that this parade will not pass down by Ardoyne, Mountainview and the Dales.

"Sinn Féin will continue to monitor all applications for parades which fall outside the 2016 agreement."

The Orange Order was approached for comment.

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