The Five Demands

Further restrictions placed on Donegall Street parade route (NewsLetter)

More restrictions have been imposed by the Parades Commission on a city centre route ahead of a parade to mark the anniversary of the Reformation.

In a ruling issued on Wednesday, the Orange Order has been told bands may only play a single drum beat while passing close to the nationalist Carrick Hill area.

They have also been told to only play hymns while passing St Patrick’s church on Donegall Street during the parade.

Four bands and 400 brethren will take part in the Reformation parade on Sunday October 28.

Supporters have also been banned from a contested section between Clifton Street, Donegall Street and Royal Avenue.

The size of the Carrick Hill Residents Association has been reduced from 150 to 100 compared to the Covenant commemoration parade at the end of September.

The Parades Commission said it was disappointed at the lack of dialogue between the Orange Order and nationalist residents.

“The Commission is disappointed that there has been no direct contact between the parade organiser and the Carrick Hill residents despite there being no inhibitors to this dialogue taking place. Nor has there been any form of representation from Unionist politicians,” it said in its ruling.

“The Commission expects this to be rectified as soon as possible, in the very near future.”

Last month the Orange Order revealed it had changed its policy on talking to nationalist residents groups.

A spokesman for the Orange Order expressed “bemusement” that Christian music was being banned along part of a notified route by members of the Loyal Institution, attending a religious service on a Sunday afternoon.

With regard the banning of parade supporters from Donegall Street again – the spokesman also accused the commission of creating a “dangerous precedent” in terms of manufacturing a “no-go area for Protestants”.

The Parades Commission said there was the potential for public disorder and damage to community relations if the Reformation march was allowed to proceed without restriction.

Carrick Hill Residents Committee spokesman Frank Dempsey commented: “We have scaled down our protests as a gesture of goodwill. This needs to be sorted out. Up until now they (Orange Order) have basically ignored us. On paper this determination looks like a step in the right direction but our position would be let’s wait and see how it pans out on the day.”

Seven police officers were injured after disturbances broke out when bandsmen defied Parades Commission rulings on a contentious parade past St Patrick’s Church on August 28.

The most recent parade past the church on September 29 to mark the centenary of the signing of the Ulster Covenant passed without incident.