‘Loyalists accept’ contentious parade route
By Chris Thornton and Maureen Coleman
22 June 2006
Loyalists appeared today to have grudgingly accepted a ruling by the Parades Commission to allow a limited march through the Workman Avenue peaceline gate during Saturday’s Whiterock Parade.
The Commission ruled on Monday that 50 Orangemen would be allowed to walk through a peaceline gate at Workman Avenue and on to a nationalist part of Springfield Road.
The Commission’s decision has angered nationalist residents, who called for a review of the ruling.
But last night the North and West Belfast Parades Forum met the Orange Order, and reluctantly accepted to recommend that people abide by the restrictions.
Fifty Orangemen have been cleared to cross the peaceline at Workman Avenue, while the rest of the parade - 700 marchers including 16 bands - will go along last year’s route, through the Mackie’s site further down the road.
Tommy Cheevers of the North and West Belfast Parades Forum said: “The fact is that if we have a peaceful summer, we will have played our part.”
