Ardoyne parade decision imminent

The Parades Commission is set to announce its decision whether an Apprentice Boys Parade can pass through the mainly nationalist Ardoyne area of north Belfast later this month.

The Ligoniel Walkers Club and an accompanying band have applied to parade past local shops before boarding buses for the main demonstration in Londonderry on August 14.

The request and route is similar to that taken by the Orange Order on July 12 which led to serious riots between security forces and nationalist residents.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has appealed to the Apprentice Boys to look sensibly at the situation and avoid any possible confrontation claiming residents in Ardoyne were still angry following last months events.

However, Apprentice Boys spokesman William Hay called on nationalists to change their attitudes and to confront the issue with a different attitude.

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