Senior members of the Apprentice Boys of Derry said yesterday that their members attending restricted "feeder" parades before Saturday's main parade in Derry would act within the law, despite restrictions placed upon them by the Parades Commission. Early morning local parades in the Lower Ormeau Road area of Belfast and in Bellaghy, Co Derry will be diverted away from nationalist areas, while a proposed parade at Dunloy, Co Antrim has been banned.
Mr Alistair Simpson, the Governor of the Apprentice Boys, said although his members were angry at the restrictions, they would comply with them. "We call them local parades, not feeder parades. The local branches in those areas have been told by us to object to the Parades Commission's rulings in a peaceful manner and not to do so outside of the law. We regret that these restrictions have been put in place, but the main thing is that things go well during our celebrations in Londonderry," he said.
Assembly member Mr William Hay (DUP) said the Apprentice Boys would use their influence to ensure that the local parades would pass off peacefully. "Although they were not a part of the understanding reached in Londonderry, our members will respect the law. We are sad that the commission has displeased us on this issue," he said.
More than 10,000 Apprentice Boys are expected to march on Saturday. They will be watched by over 5,000 spectators. Traffic diversions will be in operation.
Meanwhile, Ballynafeigh Apprentice Boys met yesterday in Belfast to formulate their response to the Parades Commission's decision to reroute their march on the Lower Ormeau Road. The meeting came as the Apprentice Boys described media reports that they had conceded to the demands of the Bogside Residents' Group on the Dunloy, Bellaghy and Ormeau Road parades as "misleading".