Hopes raised loyalist parade will be peaceful

There are hopes that the first major loyalist parade of the marching season, which takes place in Belfast tomorrow, will pass…

There are hopes that the first major loyalist parade of the marching season, which takes place in Belfast tomorrow, will pass off peacefully. The so-called Tour of the North parade in north Belfast uses a contested route past Ardoyne, the scene of violence last summer.

However, the Parades Commission, which rules on controversial marches, has facilitated talks within an umbrella group that includes the Loyal Orders, and Ardoyne residents. The talks have agreed that a small parade will pass a low-key protest at Ardoyne.

It is now hoped that the march, which sets the tone for the rest of the marching season, will proceed without incident.

However, concern is growing over prospects for the controversial Whiterock Orange parade in Belfast, which is scheduled for June 24th.

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The Irish Times understands that efforts to reach a local agreement between marchers and nationalist residents along part of the contested route have come to nothing. Talks are "dead in the water", one source said.

The Parades Commission is expected shortly to issue a determination, possibly after the Tour of the North.

Sources on the loyalist side believe the parade could be entirely restricted to unionist areas of west Belfast after protracted violence erupted following last year's Whiterock parade, which was eventually staged in September. Others believe it could be banned outright.

The SDLP, which met the Parades Commission at its headquarters yesterday, said last year's conditions on the Whiterock parade should be reimposed.

"In the absence of agreement or accommodation, any other decision sends out the wrong message, particularly after the vicious riots of last September," said West Belfast Assembly member Alex Attwood.

"It has been encouraging that there are talks about this parade. This is welcome and must continue but not to overturn the proper decisions of the commission in 2005," he added.

Nigel Dodds, the North Belfast DUP MP, welcomed the developments in relation to the Tour of the North.

"People throughout north Belfast and further afield will be hoping that this heralds a more positive approach in relation to parades generally," he said. "There will now be hope that the Whiterock parade, in particular, can proceed free from the threat of disturbance."

Calling for respect and tolerance on all sides, he added: "I am sure many will now be looking forward to an enjoyable parade [ tomorrow] and I would call on everyone to play their part in ensuring it passes off with dignity and that those who oppose it do so in an entirely peaceful way."