A LARGE loyalist band parade in north Belfast passed off peacefully last night.
The Tour of the North parade is a significant annual march, but it attracts a so-called “feeder” parade by two bands from the Ballysillan area.
The Parades Commission, which rules on contentious parades, allowed the bands to return home to Ballysillan after the main parade passed the nationalist Ardoyne area subject to restrictions.
These were that no music was to be played and that a maximum of 30 supporters of the parade were to be “embedded”.
Trouble had flared in previous years when loyalist supporters followed the band at a distance and missile-throwing and other violence erupted involving nationalist protesters.
There were some concerns that dissident republicans, who have a level of support in Ardoyne, might have used the parade to stir up trouble.
Sources suggested tension was mounting in the locality ahead of the parade last night.
However, the bands and supporters were able to make their way past the entrance to Ardoyne on the Crumlin Road without serious incident.
There was a PSNI presence and events on the ground were monitored from a helicopter.
Last year agreement was reached on the route to be taken by the main parade which attracts up to 50 bands across the city.
This accord was greeted by unionists and Sinn Féin.