Whiterock march on hold
Decision postponed until weekend ruling
by Ciarán Barnes
Fears of destroying a historic agreement between nationalist residents and the Orange Order has forced the Parades Commission to postpone making a decision on a second controversial loyalist march.
The commission was due to rule yesterday on an application by Whiterock Orangemen to parade along the nationalist Springfield Road in west Belfast on June 24.
But frightened a decision could wreck an unprecedented deal between the Orange Order and residents of the Ardoyne area in north Belfast, the commission has postponed their Whiterock ruling until the weekend.
On Tuesday, Ardoyne residents and loyalist community workers issued a joint statement in which they agreed a series of compromises ahead of Friday’s controversial Tour of the North march. In previous years the Orange Order parade has been the catalyst for serious sectarian rioting.
Speaking after meeting the Parades Commission yesterday to discuss the Whiterock parade, west Belfast Sinn Féin councillor Tom Hartley said: “Dialogue is very important as the only way to resolve the issue is through agreements between residents on both sides of the Springfield Road.
“There is an alternative route which I believe has been on the table for the last three years. I hope that sense will prevail as this is an opportunity to find a solution to a long-standing problem.”
The SDLP also met with the Parades Commission. West Belfast MLA Alex Attwood said: “The Parades Commission should hold to last year’s Whiterock decisions. In the absence of agreement or accommodation, any other decision sends out the wrong message, particularly after the vicious riots of last September.”
After Orangemen were banned from marching along the Springfield Road last year, loyalists rioted for five nights. More than 60 people were arrested in violence that saw paramilitaries and the PSNI open fire more than 300 times.
In relation to Friday’s parade, Ardoyne Parades Dialogue Group spokesman Joe Marley yesterday said it was important the event passes off peacefully.
“It is vital that the local community remains disciplined and peaceful in its protest,” he said.
“It is the interest of everyone who has a stake in the future of this community to ensure that this process is given a fair wind.
“We are calling on clergy, school teachers, local politicians, youth leaders and community workers to work with us on Friday night and in the time leading up to the parade to ensure that we seize this opportunity to build on the dialogue.
“We have called two public meetings to brief the community on the progress of the talks to date and our position has been endorsed.”
