Agreement over Belfast Orange parade breaks down

5 months ago 35

Pacemaker Police in the forground with their back to the camera. In the background a parade of people in red uniform led by a police land roverPacemaker

Police at the Ardoyne shops in North Belfast as a parade passed for the Twelfth of July in 2023

An agreement which ended violence around an Orange Order parade dispute in north Belfast has collapsed.

Talks to maintain the 2016 deal broke down last week, with a march past Ardoyne shops now being sought on the evening of July 12.

A protest by a nationalist residents’ group is planned in response.

The Parades Commission will rule on the matter in two weeks’ time, with the police monitoring developments closely.

PA Media Men in red uniform carrying flags marching in a paradePA Media

The Pride of Ardoyne flute band parading passed Ardoyne shops in north Belfast ahead of the annual Protestant loyalist order Twelfth of July parade in 2023

The Order claimed the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association (CARA) had “weaponised” engagement and accused them of “bad-faith dialogue.”

Earlier, Sinn Fein north Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly said it was “deeply concerning” that a parade has been applied for.

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