RIOTS A NORTH BELFAST “NON NEL NOME DELL’ORANGE ORDER”

Posted on 5 Set 2012 by S.P. Lascia un commento

‘Trouble not in name of Orange’ (NewsLetter)

The Orange Order has spoken out after a couple of days of silence over the parade-related violence.

Much of the rioting has taken place virtually outside their Carlisle Circus hall at an interface with a nationalist neighbourhood. The most recent was sparked by a republican parade taking place in the area at the weekend. But it is just the latest in a string of clashes since July.

It also comes ahead of a massive Orange parade on September 29.

Now the Orange Order has spoken out.

Although it would not talk directly with the News Letter, its spokesman referred the newspaper to comments made by the Rev Mervyn Gibson on the BBC’s Talkback show.

On it, he said: “I would condemn the rioting.

“There’s no justification for violence of any nature related to the parading issue.

“However, I think there’s an anger within the unionist and loyalist community; not only an anger about parading but about things generally.”

He said the anger could be explained in part by “biased” decision-making on which parades to restrict and which to allow.

Asked if his words are just going to be seen as a call-to-arms by rioters, he replied: “I don’t think so at all. I’m clearly saying, others are clearly saying: You shouldn’t be rioting.

“You’re certainly not doing it in our name. It’s damaging the cause.”