The Five Demands

La High Court conferma la decisione della Parades Commission che autorizza una banda al seguito della Royal Black Preceptory Parade nella parata di sabato mattina

Per la seconda volta GARC (Greater Ardoyne Residents Commission) e CARA (Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association) sono ricorsi all’High Court nell’estremo tentativo di opporsi alle decisioni della Parades Commission, ma hanno fallito nuovamente.
La Corte ha infatti respinto il loro ricorso, ammonendo però il Loyal Order per non essersi impegnato in un dialogo con le associazioni dei residenti in termini di parate.
“La corte confida sinceramente nell’impegno in futuro di rendere inutile ricorsi di questo tipo”.
“L’importanza di un impegno onesto, determinato e  incondizionato di tutte le parti interessate è fuori discussione”.
Via libera quindi alla Pride of Ardoyne Flute Band (si ipotizza sia legata all’UVF) in occasione dell’annuale Royal Black Preceptory Parade.
Ma Il Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective ha avvertito che non resterà con le mani in mano e in un comunicato recita: ” Esortiamo la Black Preceptory No 210 Redcross e la Pride Ardoyne Flute Band a reindirizzare la propria parata, nell’interesse di tutti e  con la volontà di lasciar vivere in pace la gente locale. In caso contrario, il Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective dichiara che farà una determinato, pacifico ma radicale tentativo di bloccare Crumlin Road e impedire questa parata attraverso la nostra comunità.”

Resident fails in Ardoyne band bid (U TV)
The High Court has upheld the Parades Commission’s decision to allow a band to accompany a Royal Black Preceptory feeder parade in Ardoyne in north Belfast on Saturday morning.
Mr Justice McCloskey dismissed the application for judicial review which was submitted by a resident on Friday.
But he criticised loyal orders for not engaging in dialogue with residents’ associations about contentious parades.
He said it was unfortunate the Crumlin and Ardoyne Residents Association (CARA) had been driven to court for a second time in two months and added:
“The court sincerely trusts that engagement in future will render unnecessary legal challenges of this kind.”
“The importance of honest, determined and unconditional engagement by all interested parties is beyond dispute.”
Earlier, a lawyer for the resident said people living along the route felt it was a provocative gesture to allow the marchers to be accompanied by the Pride of Ardoyne flute band, which he claimed had controversial links with the UVF.
The lawyer referred to a case earlier this month when the Parades Commission refused to allow the Shankill Star band to accompany a parade along the same route because of its alleged paramilitary connections.
The Parades Commission granted permission for the band to accompany the parade at the flashpoint before they head to the main demonstration in Newcastle, but prohibited it from playing music.
The DUP have criticised its handling of the one of the last contentious parade of the marching season.
“They have rewarded the protesters by having protesters on both sides of the Crumlin Road – a protest that is actually three times the size of the parade”, DUP MLA for north Belfast, Nelson McCausland, told UTV.
“That sort of intimidation is unacceptable. I’m also appalled that the Parades Commission has prohibited the band from playing music; they’ve also prohibited the band from carrying a bannerette of former band members”, Mr McCausland added.
In east Belfast, Sinn Féin are angry that the band in the feeder parade which passes the nationalist Short Strand area is to be allowed to play music on Saturday.
The Parades Commission originally ruled there should only be a drum beat.
“The main objection is that over the past few years the parade organisers have failed to engage in any dialogue with the residents in the Short Strand. The other issue for us is that the Parades Commission had implemented a determination on this parade and then, through whatever malign influence of political unionism in east Belfast, they have changed that”, Sinn Féin’s east Belfast Representative Niall O’Donnghaile told UTV.
Those opposed to the parade say they will hold dignified and peaceful protests.
The Royal Black Institution says it hopes the day will pass off quietly.
“It’s a route we traditionally take, one we walk every year. We certainly play our music and celebrate our culture but we do so with dignity”, Reverend Mervyn Gibson, from the Royal Black Institution, said.
“There is a Unionist community there that wants to hear their music played and traditions celebrated.”