Hundreds of police officers will be drafted into Derry this morning to police the controversial Apprentice Boys' Lundy's Day parades. Attempts to broker a deal between the loyal order and the Bogside Residents' Group over the city centre route of the parades failed.
Mediators from city centre traders' groups, many of whom have shops along the route, held several hours of talks with BRG spokesmen at a secret location yesterday. The Apprentice Boys have criticised the decision of the Parades Commission, which ruled that the second of today's Lundy's Day parades would be rerouted away from the Diamond area.
About 1,800 Apprentice Boys are expected to take part in the two parades, the first of which starts at noon. The rerouted parade will be held after a service in St Columb's Cathedral. The day's ceremonies end with the traditional burning of an effigy of Lundy in Bishop Street.