24/06/2005

Politicians appeal for calm ahead of Whiterock parade

Local politicians have appealed for calm ahead of this weekend’s Whiterock parade in Belfast.

It comes as the Orange Order said it plans to defy restrictions placed on it by the Parades Commission which says the Order must go though the former Mackies factory site on Saturday. The Order had requested a route via Workman Avenue, off the mainly nationalist Springfield Road in west Belfast.

The DUP's Nelson McCausland said marchers and supporters should behave in a "dignified manner" while Sinn Fein’s Alex Maskey said he and his party would be working with local residents to try and “maintain calm”.

Security Minister Shaun Woodward also appealed for calm and called on “all who are influential in the communities to achieve a peaceful outcome to this weekend”.

Belfast's senior police commander, Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland said that he and his officers would continue to work with local communities and their representatives to ensure that Saturday’s Whiterock parade was peaceful and lawful.

"Communities have the right to parade and to protest but with those rights come responsibilities,” Mr McCausland said. “People have a right to parade as long as they do it peacefully and within the law. They also have a right to protest, peacefully and within the law. The Police Service will do all in its power to facilitate both of these situations."

Last year, at the eleventh hour, the commission reversed its original decision and allowed Orangemen to walk part of the route, with a number of conditions.

Last weekend trouble erupted in Ardoyne after Friday's ‘Tour of the North’ Organe Order parade was allowed to pass the nearby nationalist area.

(MB)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

24 October 2014
Unionists Accused Of Holding All-Party Talks To Ransom
Sinn Féin has accused Unionists of holding all party talks to ransom over an Orange Order parade in north Belfast. MP Conor Murphy said to date there is no agenda, no timetable, no programme of work or no structure for chairing. Mr Murphy said: "We told the two governments that we are concerned that we don't have a credible talks process.
14 September 2005
Loyalist protests continue as Orange Order absolves itself of blame
Loyalists have again block roads leading out of Belfast for a fourth consecutive day, police have reported. Protestors blocked Broadway roundabout on Wednesday afternoon causing traffic chaos on the Westlink while bus services have been withdrawn on the evening services from Shankill to Ligioniel and Carlisle Circus to Carrs Glenn.
02 July 2004
Orange Order parade passes off peacefully
An Orange Order parade in east Belfast has passed off peacefully despite protests by nationalist residents. The parade saw thousands of marchers make its way along the Albertbridge Road and onto the Ravenhill Road close to the mainly Catholic Short Strand area on Thursday evening.
21 April 2015
DUP Hits Out At Decision To Ban Playing Music At Parade
The DUP has slammed the Parades Commission decision to ban the playing of music during part of Sunday's parade to the City of Belfast Loyal Orange Widows Fund Service. The Parades Commission decision restricts bands to a single drumbeat only from the junction of Carrick Hill and 18 Clifton Street to the junction of Union Street and Donegall Street.
24 June 2004
Chief Constable under fire for 'dodging' meeting
PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde has been attacked by the Orange Order's Belfast Grand Master for what the Order views as "gross irresponsibility" over his refusal to meet with representatives concerned about a threat of violence hanging over Saturday's rerouted Whiterock parade.