Mixed reactions to Ormeau loyalist parade ban

The Apprentice Boys today expressed anger and disappointment at the Parades Commission's decision to ban them from marching down the Lower Ormeau Road in Belfast on Easter Monday.

However the decision was greeted by Sinn Féin as "the only possible decision that could have been reached".

The Commission said in making its decision it had taken into account that this year was the 10th anniversary of the murders of five people in Sean Graham bookmakers in the lower Ormeau.

It banned the morning parade from marhcing down the notified route between the Ormeau Bridge and Havelock Bridge. The return evening parade route is not considered contentious and remains unchanged.

Mr Tommy Cheevers of the Belfast Walkers Club said the Commission had blocked their parade despite having given the approval for it last year.

There was supposed to be a Parades Commission which was consistent in its decisions, he said.

"They allowed us to go down the Ormeau Road last Easter Monday, we called that off because of foot-and-mouth, and we haven't got down the road since.

"I don't see where the consistency in that is."

However, the decision was welcomed by Sinn Féin, with Mr Alex Maskey MLA for South Belfast, describing it as the "only possible decision that could have been reached".

"The Apprentice Boys have made no attempt to enter into a meaningful dialogue with representatives of the lower Ormeau Road in order to solve any of the issues surrounding the parade," he claimed.

He claimed that allowing the parade would undermine work that was being done by politicians, community workers and church leaders to improve community relations in the area.

The Parades Commission has also put restrictions on other Easter parades.

The Ligoniel Walkers Club has been prohibited from playing music as it passes the nationalist Ardoyne and restrictions have been placed on Saturday's republican Easter parade in Bawnmore, north Belfast.

PA