Loyalist march through Stoneyford faces restriction
The Parades Commission has restricted the route of a controversial loyalist parade through a County Antrim village on St Patrick’s Day.
The Pride of the Village Flute Band had asked the commission for permission to march through Stoneyford in County Antrim at 1900 GMT on 17 March.
The band had wanted to march through a number of mixed Protestant and Catholic housing estates in the village.
However, the commission ruled the march should only proceed down Main Street.
The commission said the march should proceed, without stop, from its assembly point at Stoneyford Orange Hall and down Main Street as far as its junction with Ashvale Heights.
Marchers must then turn around and march back the way they came to the Orange hall.
The commission also said the parade must be finished in 15 minutes.
It also banned paramilitary clothing, banners and other paraphernalia.
‘Intimidation’
In its ruling, the commission said that the parade could only give rise to increased sectarian tensions in the area.
“The commission understands that Stoneyford has seen sectarian tension, and that the organising band has been the focus of concerns about sectarian intimidation in the village,” it said.
“As it has done previously in considering parades notified by this band, the commission suggests to the organiser that he reflect carefully on whether his actions are in the best interests of community relations in Stoneyford; and if they are helping to further the interests of parading as a peaceful, cultural tradition.”
The Pride of the Village Flute Band is led by loyalist Mark Harbinson, who in November 2009 was remanded in custody charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.
Mr Harbinson has also been questioned by police in connection with an alleged sexual assault on a 15-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy.
He was arrested in October when police allegedly found indecent images of the 13-year-old girl on his mobile phone. He denies the charges.
The 42-year-old from Sheepwalk Road in Stoneyford was a prominent Orangeman during the Drumcree standoff in Portadown.
Sinn Fein MLA Paul Butler said his party was seeking a meeting with police to discuss the march.
“Whilst we welcome the decision of the Parades Commission to place the severest restrictions on this sectarian march a banning order on these types of parades is the only way to show that this type of sectarian coat-trailing will not be tolerated,” he said.
The Parades Commission was set up in 1997 to make decisions on whether controversial parades should be restricted.
Pride of the Village Flute Band – Stoneyford
