Commission Rules Restrictions On Remembrance Parade

The Parades Commission has enforced restrictions on a Remembrance Day march due to pass St Patrick’s Church on Saturday.

The north Belfast church is yet again to be the focal point of contentious parades, as the Apprentice Boys of Derry prepare to march through the area at the weekend.

But the Commission has ruled that only hymns will be allowed to be played when the band marches past St Patrick’s.

The church made headlines in Northern Ireland during the summer, when a loyalist band was filmed marching outside the church on 12 July and playing the Famine Song: an anti-catholic song which has been judged to be racist by a court in Scotland.

The Young Conway Volunteers argued at the time they were unaware they were outside a Catholic church and were playing a pop song.

Serious public disorder followed in August and September after nationalists and loyalists held parades in September.

Since the summer, Carrick Hill Concerned Residents, representing the north Belfast area, and the Apprentice Boys have been engaged in discussions.

The Parades Commission has welcomed the "direct contact" between the parade organisers and representatives of Carrick Hill.

"The Commission fully acknowledge that the best outcome to mitigate conflict at this interface around parading is when it is agreed locally and not imposed," the ruling stated.

The Apprentice Boys are said to have given them "assurances of good and appropriate behaviour at this parade”.

"Previous determinations issued by the commission in respect of this organisation at this location have been adhered to," they said.

As part of the ruling, there are to be no parade supporters between the junction of Donegall Street and Royal Avenue and the junction of the Westlink and Clifton Street, while the residents' protest has been restricted to 150.

(IT/GK)