The Five Demands

Commission rules on Ardoyne march (UTV)
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A Twelfth of July feeder parade will make its return route past the Ardoyne shops earlier than in previous years, the Parades Commission has ruled.

The contentious parade has been ordered to return by 4pm, and the commission said the timing was brought forward to reduce public disorder and disruption to local residents.

In a statement, the Parades Commission said: “Those with knowledge of the area will be aware that the policing operations required in recent years have necessarily been of such scale and nature that inevitably there have been further impositions placed upon the rights and freedoms of those who work and live in the area concerned.
“We believe that the determination which we now make reduces all these risks and potentials, even where they cannot be entirely avoided.”
The watchdog says that the Orange Order march is a “traditional parade which has considerable significance in the Protestant community” however, it acknowledged that “should the parade process without restriction, there will be an adverse effect on already fragile community relations and potential for public disorder”.
The shops on the Crumlin Road have long been a trouble spot and last year police were injured as crowds of more than 200 people threw petrol bombs and other missiles at them.
The Parades Commission also called for “all local political representatives, clergy, community activists and those persons with influence [to] use it to reduce the potential for violence and to enhance the potential for robust, durable and good community relations”.

The Crumlin and Ardoyne Residents’ Association (CARA) and the North and West Belfast Parades and Cultural Forum held talks but the Parades Commission stepped in when the groups were unable to come to a resolution.
However, Joe Marley from CARA said the determination is “absolutely absurd”.
“All parades on the Crumlin Road are contentious, but the return parades are particularly problematic,” he explained. “The potential for tensions to overflow is tangible.”
Mr Marley said CARA had called for the parade to take place in the morning.
“Not that we would want to see it,” he added, “it would be better if there was no parade on the stretch of the road.”

Dee Fennell, from the Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective (GARC), said they will be holding a protest parade in opposition.
The Parades Commission have told GARC they must assemble and leave by 5.30pm, half an hour earlier than the residents group requested.
“Historically when the parade passes there’s always a recipe for violence, violence that we would be opposed to. We’re going to have to take our lead on the day and take stock over the next 24 hours and then issue a statement regarding our own parade,” Mr Fennell added.

A DUP spokesman said local politicians will meet with the North and West Belfast Parades Forum to discuss the Parades Commission decision.
“The determination relates to the homeward route of the Crumlin Road parade. This meeting will take place in the next few days.”

Sinn Féin MLA Mitchel McLaughlin said he was disappointed that the commission had not taken on board the concerns of the residents.
“Essentially the commission have given the go ahead for the Orange Order to march with 4,000 participants through Crumlin village on the Twelfth of July and an expected 5,000 supporters to attend despite the Orange Order carrying out no consultation whatsoever with the local community.
“This community, which is over 80% nationalist, have opposed this happening due to concerns in regards to the potential for serious damage to the excellent community relations in the town, levels of confidence in the new policing dispensation, the freedom of movement for the residents and fears of violence as a result of a number of attacks in the village following previous sizable Orange marches,” he added.