The Five Demands

No agreement from Ardoyne talks (UTV)

Talks between residents’ groups and parade bodies in north Belfast to resolve the ongoing dispute over parading in the Ardoyne area have been unable to reach agreement.

The discussions have been chaired by former Northern Ireland Assembly Speaker Lord Alderdice, supported by local church leaders Fr Gary Donegan from Holy Cross and Dr Norman Hamilton from Ballysillan Presbyterian.

They confirmed that they have seen “significant progress” in their North Belfast conversations but an agreement has not yet been reached.

Trouble has broke out in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast in recent years due to a contentious Orange Order march and the talks were set up to prevent incidents happening again in future.

They acknowledged that the Parades Commission will have to make a determination on the parade route in the upcoming week.

Lord Alderdice said the direct discussions between the two sides “have been drawn to a close for the present”, but the tone of the conversations was very positive and the channels of communication with both sides remain open.

At the invitation of the Parades Commission the three men have engaged over the last two months with a range of stakeholders and groups in the area.

Lord Alderdice said: “While we knew from the start that it would be difficult to reach agreement, we were gratified that despite the difficulties and disappointments of the past there was from the outset a genuine engagement from significant groups representing local nationalist residents and the loyal orders.

“As our conversations proceeded there was direct engagement between representatives of the loyal orders, (including the Orange Order) and local residents. These meetings were characterised by an atmosphere of genuine respect and courtesy, and new and creative proposals were brought to the meetings by both sides.

“The North and West Belfast Cultural and Parades Forum came forward with significant new proposals to try to address residents concerns and the Crumlin and Ardoyne Residents Association (CARA), having taken soundings in their community, produced further imaginative and positive proposals designed to ensure that there could be a genuinely shared future that included the Protestant parading tradition in the area.

“While agreement was not reached there was a much greater meeting of minds than we had expected and as we drew the direct conversations between the two sides to a close for the present, the atmosphere of the conversations was free of rancour and characterised by mutual respect and a genuine appreciation from both of the efforts the other side had made.”

He said channels of communication are being kept open and they hope that the next few weeks pass peacefully.

“Recent weeks have seen momentous steps forward in Northern Ireland and from our conversations we are clear that, though agreement has not yet been achieved, the loyal orders and local residents have the capacity and commitment to ensure further steps forward for the whole community.”

Chairman of the Parades Commission, Peter Osborne said he welcomed the “mood of progress” and thanked those involved for their engagement.

“While it has not been possible on this occasion to find agreement in the timeframe available, we are encouraged by the conversations which took place,” he said.

“In line with our statutory duties the Commission will now consider Ardoyne along with our other decisions to be taken this week. These are always difficult decisions that we would prefer not to have to make, but are required to in the light of no local agreement.

“I am confident given the genuine efforts to make progress that the work undertaken by Lord Alderdice and the local groups will not be lost. We hope that it can used as a platform to build upon.”