Unionist 'concerns' at proposals to resolve north Belfast parades dispute

Talks: Theresa Villiers

By Claire Williamson

October 13 2014 10:25 PM

Unionist leaders and senior Orange Order officials have told the Secretary of State they still have concerns over her plans to resolve the bitter north Belfast parades dispute.

Theresa Villiers has announced she will set up an expert panel in a bid to resolve the ongoing impasse at the Ardoyne/Twaddell interface.

Violence has surrounded the July 12 parade on a small section of the Crumlin Road for years, whether the march is restricted or not.

A joint delegation of unionist leaders and loyal order representatives yesterday sought clarification on a number of her proposals.

The meeting comes just days before Ms Villiers is due to chair separate talks at Stormont on some of Northern Ireland's most divisive issues, including as flags, identity, parades and dealing with the past.

Following yesterday's meeting the 'Combined Unionist Leadership' issued a joint statement on behalf of the DUP, UUP, TUV, UKIP, PUP, UPRG (West Belfast) and Orange Order representatives from Grand Lodge and Belfast County.

The statement said they had "sought clarification" on a number of areas of the Panel of Parades proposal and received "some" at the meeting.

It added that the Secretary of State "undertook to provide a full response as soon as possible."

Writing in the Belfast Telegraph yesterday Ms Villiers said her proposal "represents a common sense approach and a realistic assessment of how we might make progress towards a resolution to this destructive impasse".

Belfast Telegraph