Residents outraged at parades decision

Nationalist residents in west Belfast are outraged at a decision by the Parades Commission to allow an Orange Order parade to pass through a nationalist area.

The Commission has granted permission to one lodge, consisting of around 50 Orangemen, to march through the gate at Workman Avenue and onto the Springfield Road during a parade on Saturday, while the rest of the parade has been re-routed through the old Mackies factory site.

Last year, the entire parade was banned from passing through the gate, which sparked serious disturbances in the area.

Sean Murray from the Springfield Resident's Group said the decision "flies in the face of logic, set against the backdrop of what happened last September.

"Our community was faced with a campaign, an organised campaign of intimidation by both the Orange Order and the loyalist bands."

Mr Murray added that allowing the orangemen to pass through the Mackies site, was the the only viable solution, which would be a win/win situation for both communities.

A statement from the DUP commenting on the decision read: "This decision recognises the right of Orangemen to parade on the Springfield Road from the Workman Avenue gate. The Parades Commission has recognised the principle that this section of the main Springfield Road should be a shared space. In this regard it constitutes progress on the position last year.

"Nevertheless it is bizarre that having accepted the principle, they will only allow the Whiterock Lodge and No 9 District Officers to walk on that section of the road.

"For this reason we will want to talk to the Secretary of State and the Parades Commission.

"The North and West Belfast Parades Forum and No 9 District have worked hard to achieve progress and in this they are to be commended by all right thinking people."

Yesterday, Sinn Fein councillor Tom Hartley described the commission's ruling as "immoral and unacceptable."

Later today, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams will meet with the Parades Commission to discuss the decision to allow the Orange march to pass through a nationalist area.

The PSNI have estimated that the cost of policing the Whiterock parade last year along with covering rioting in a number of loyalist areas totalled at around £3 million.

The Parades Commission was created in 1997 to rule on controversial parades.

(EF/SP)