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Decision on Orange Order parade past Ardoyne is postponed for talks

PSNI officers stop Orangemen and loyalists from marching along the Woodvale Road in Belfast during last year's Twelfth celebrations Expand

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PSNI officers stop Orangemen and loyalists from marching along the Woodvale Road in Belfast during last year's Twelfth celebrations

PSNI officers stop Orangemen and loyalists from marching along the Woodvale Road in Belfast during last year's Twelfth celebrations

PSNI officers stop Orangemen and loyalists from marching along the Woodvale Road in Belfast during last year's Twelfth celebrations

By Chris Kilpatrick

The parades watchdog has delayed ruling on a contentious Orange Order march to allow more time for behind-the-scenes talks.

The Parades Commission was due to deliver its determination yesterday on an application for a parade past the Ardoyne shops in north Belfast.

Last July three Ligoniel lodges were blocked from the route, part of their return parade for the annual Twelfth marches.

Weekly protest parades and nightly demonstrations have taken place in the area since, with a permanent camp set up at Twaddell Avenue.

The lodges concerned sought to complete the parade on June 7.

The commission said it had postponed its decision to allow talks, involving church leaders, to take place this weekend.

"As the commission believes that local accommodation is the best way to resolve sensitive parading issues, it has agreed to convene next Tuesday, June 3, to consider any further representations," a spokesman for the Parades Commission said.

The commission said it had received various representations both for and against the proposed parade.

Belfast Telegraph

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