Orange Order’s music ban overturned
The Parades Commission has overturned a decision to restrict bands taking part in a controversial Orange march from playing music while passing a Catholic church after the order’s Grand Master engaged with them for the first time.
In a ground-breaking move, Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland Eddie Stevenson wrote to the Parades Commission this week urging them to review a decision to ban the playing of music when Ballymacarrett District LOL No 6 passes Saint Matthew’s Church on Newtownards Road on July 12.
A delegation of unionist politicians also met with the Parades Commission this week to make their case.
In a fresh determination issued last night, parades chiefs told organisers that hymns can now be played along the disputed section of the route.
In the past, the Orange Order has ignored Parades Commission determinations in respect of playing music while passing the Catholic church.
In January this year, Mr Stevenson wrote to the Parades Commission to tell them he would not be engaging with them.
This week’s contact is the first time he has written to the parades body about a determination.
Despite the apparent shift in direction, which is allowed within grand lodge policy, the Orange Order in Belfast last night called for the Parades Commission to be scrapped.
A spokesman said: “The Parades Commission has failed to grasp the mood in east Belfast. They do not understand the hurt their decisions have caused. Once again their arrogance has been clear for everyone to see and they must go.”
A spokesman for the Parades Commission declined to respond.
As expected the Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective (GARC) has been refused permission to march along a section of the Crumlin Road on the 12th at the same time Orangemen will be passing the nationalist Ardoyne shop fronts.
Last year GARC mounted a sit- down protest on the Crumlin Road in opposition to the annual contentious parade.
Around 80 PSNI officers were injured including a policewoman who suffered serious neck injuries in four days of serious rioting in the area.
The Parades Commission has also banned the Orange Order’s Drumcree parade from going through the nationalist Garvaghy Road this Sunday.
An 11/1 form was submitted by Portadown LOL No1 on Tuesday after it emerged prosecutions were to be taken against 15 people who allegedly took part in an unnotified parade in Lurgan in January.
Grand Secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Drew Nelson, last night appealed for calm over the Twelfth period. Mr Nelson said: “If any violence or disturbances do emanate from those opposed to our parades then we must not in any way retaliate.”
