‘WRECKERS REWARDED’
‘It’s shameful. We tried to build a positive relationship with the Parades Commission. They have destroyed that process and acted in bad faith. They have rewarded the violence that stemmed from last September’s parade’ - Residents’ spokesperson
By Connla Young
20 June 2006
A Parades Commission decision to give the go ahead for a contentious loyalist parade was branded “shameful” by nationalist residents last night.
People living on the Springfield Road say they may launch a legal challenge to the decision to allow 50 Orangemen to pass through Workman Avenue during a march this Saturday.
In September last year £3million (€4.4million) worth of damage was caused when Orangemen and loyalists went on the rampage after a similar parade was rerouted away from a nationalist section of the Springfield Road.
Loyalist gunmen fired shots at the PSNI during several days of serious rioting in the wake of the rerouted parade.
A spokesperson for the Springfield Residents Action Group (SRAG) said nationalist residents are bitterly disappointed by the Parades Commission decision to allow Orangemen to march through the district.
“It’s shameful. We tried to build a positive relationship with the Parades Commission. With this decision they have destroyed that process, they have acted in bad faith.
“They have basically rewarded the violence that stemmed from last September’s parade. Loyalists rioted, bombed and fired shots last year and now they have been rewarded by the Parades Commission.
“Residents tried to find a resolution through dialogue and are now ignored and shunned by the Parades Commission who have made things very difficult for residents.
“The violence of last year was structured and planned and have now received a huge reward from the Parades Commission. The relationship between ourselves and the commission has been scuppered.”
Chairman of the Parades Commission Roger Poole defended his decision.
“While we understand clearly the hurt and anger caused by this violence, we are also keenly aware that few areas in Northern Ireland have escaped violent confrontation in the past,” said Roger Poole.
“We are determined however that past violence will not be allowed to hold back progress towards a peaceful and shared future for all the people of Northern Ireland.
“This decision is taken in the knowledge that it will cause its own degree of hurt and anger in places on both sides of the religious divide here, but also in the hope that it demonstrates the importance of mutual respect and the absolute primacy of dialogue.
“The commission hopes that people will reflect on this decision before reacting to it.”
In a determination issued yesterday 50 Orangemen from Whiterock Temperance LOL were given the green light to pass through Workman Avenue on their way to Whiterock Orange Hall.
Other parade participants and supporters will be forced to make their way to Whiterock Orange Hall via Invest Northern Ireland’s industrial park which avoids nationalist areas.
A number of restrictions have also been placed on participants carrying loyalist flags and emblems at certain points along the parade route.
