Parade Protest Permitted

The organisers of a high profile city centre protest have been urged to think again - and are facing criticism from both the DUP and a west Belfast-based paper.

In advance of today's news that the Parades Commission is to allow a Sinn Féin counter-demonstration, protesting an armed forces homecoming parade in Belfast next month, this week's edition of the influential west Belfast-based Andersonstown News has said "bringing nationalists on to the streets of downtown Belfast to stage a counter-demonstration against the returning troops will be counterproductive to the republican cause".

The paper's Opinion column has also suggested that the hard-won right to protest should not be squandered and that republicans "must tolerate and make space for this welcome home rally" and suggests a protest be held on another date.

Meanwhile, the Parades Commission has made its ruling and after discussions agreed that the military parade start outside the gates of RBAI at College Square and end at Oxford Street after heading along Donegall Square North for a City Hall march-past.

In turn, the protestors must not leave Bank Street before 11.30am - to allow the main parade's supporters to make their way to the City Hall from the north side of the city.

The original arrangements, they said could have an "adverse effect on community relations and potential for public disorder".

Their ruling also said that the Sinn Féin demonstration must become a static protest 40 metres from the junction of Donegall Place and Donegall Square North and to disperse immediately after the parade passes along Donegall Square, fronting the City Hall

In a statement, the Commission said it wanted to accommodate the parade and "a legitimate protest in a way which ensures that peace is maintained".

However, the Parades Commission has been slammed as having "simply caved into the demands of Sinn Féin" with their decision being "a recipe for disaster".

According to Nelson McCausland, the North Belfast DUP MLA (pictured) the Commission was "pandering to bigotry" and had effectively "handed Donegall Place over to Sinn Féin".

"Thousands of people from the Greater Shankill and from north Belfast and Newtownabbey will want to walk down Donegall Place to get to the City Hall. However, the Parades Commission has handed Donegall Place over to Sinn Fein," he claimed.

However, in its ruling, the Parades Commission has praised "Sinn Féin's willingness to co-operate and engage with the commission and the PSNI" which it said has been a "positive contribution to the planning for the event", noting that the "MoD has shown a willingness to plan their event in a sensitive manner".

Sinn Féin MLA Paul Maskey said the party had worked hard to ensure the protest would be "dignified and peaceful".

"We have a right to show our opposition against the oppression of Britain here, in Afghanistan and Iraq."

See: Parade Plan Heightens Tension As Executive Fails To Meet