Dialogue on flashpoint parade breaks down
A loyalist parades group last night warned that it would not steward a controversial Twelfth parade at a notorious north Belfast flashpoint.
In recent years groundbreaking dialogue between nationalist residents and the North & West Belfast Parade Forum has prevented serious violence during loyal order parades passing Ardoyne.
The process was praised as a possible blueprint for other contentious parades.
However, that process appeared to have broken down last night with NWBPF spokesman Tommy Cheevers accusing Ardoyne residents of “turning a blind eye” to attacks on parades.
“We’ve been pushed to the wire by republicans who have consistently failed to properly steward their so-called peaceful protests to stop attacks on our parades,” he said.
“We’re non prepared to put up with it any longer.”
Mr Cheevers demanded full police protection for the parade when it passes Ardoyne on Monday night.
“Gerry Kelly claimed we were attacked by a small number of dissidents but we believe mainstream republicans are hiding behind this cloak of convenience,” Mr Cheevers said.
“We’re not going to be the whipping boys for various republicans groups trying to outdo each other.
“We believe the constant attacks on our parades proves that the devolution of policing and justice powers shouldn’t happen any time in the near future.”
Without loyalist stewards it is unclear if police will now revert to using riot squad officers to force the parade passed Ardoyne.
In recent years loyalist supporters have been bussed past the flashpoint interface.
However, Mr Cheevers said loyalists would not board buses on Monday evening and intended walking past Ardoyne, once the main parade has passed.
“The Parades Commission says that 30 supporters will be allowed to accompany the lodges and bands, ” he said.
“What happens with the rest of the people who want to get home up the Crumlin Road is impossible to say.
“We’ve been told that the Crumlin Road will reopen once the parade passes Hesketh Avenue.
“We believe any supporters who behave themselves should be allowed to walk home up the Crumlin Road at the point.”
However, Ardoyne Parades Dialogue Group spokesman Pat McLarnon described the decision to withdraw loyalist parade stewards as a “recipe for disaster.”
“Loyalist supporters, many of them heavily drunk, have been the main source of the problem in recent years, ” he said.
“They’ve been led by well known loyalist paramilitaries and acted in provocative and intimidating manner, taunting residents with UDA and UVF flags.
“Busing them through the area was the sensible and safest option.
“We’re concerned they are now refusing to use buses ad seem intent on some kind of stand-off unless they’re allowed some kind of coat-trailing exercise up the Crumlin Road.”
