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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Lauren Harte

PSNI investigating ‘suspected offences’ during Easter commemoration in West Belfast

Police are investigating an Easter republican commemoration parade in West Belfast on Sunday morning.

The parade was listed by the Parades Commission with four bands and around 500 people expected to attend.

It was organised by the Irish Republican Socialist Party and left Dunville Park on the Falls Road at around 11.30am before making its way up the road towards towards Milltown Cemetery.

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The IRSP were to be joined by the James Connolly Republican Flute Band, James Hope Flute Band, Craigneuk Flute Band and Cairde na hÉireann.

PSNI officers were on the ground while a police helicopter observed the IRSP parade and will now investigate “in relation to suspected offences”.

"Police were in attendance at a notified parade in the Falls Road area of Belfast on Sunday, April 17th”, a PSNI spokesperson said.

"A policing operation, including evidence gathering was deployed. We will now review the footage and on the basis of initial observations we have commenced a criminal investigation in relation to suspected offences during the course of the parade.

“As is normal for notified parades we will also prepare a report to the Parades Commission on the conduct of the parade.”

Huge crowds are expected to take part in Easter commemorations to mark 106 years since the 1916 Rising.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald is to address the National Graves Association commemoration in Milltown Cemetery on Sunday afternoon.

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