Ardoyne residents' group calls for parade review

A nationalist residents’ group has called for “an urgent review” of a Parades Commission decision to allow an Orange Order march in north Belfast on Saturday.

The Crumlin Road and Ardoyne Residents’ Association (CARA) claims the outcome was based on “misleading and inaccurate information”.

The parade, which will involve passing the Ardoyne shops, was approved despite the group’s objections.

It was applied for to mark Orange heritage week.

The commission has imposed conditions, including instructing a band not to play music or beat drums as it passes the shops.

The parade is outside of a 2016 agreement which sees five morning parades occur each year.

The Orange Order recently stated the agreement had broken down.

Saturday’s event will take place at 09:00 BST and last an hour, moving between Woodvale and Ligoniel.

One hundred and fifty people will take part.

CARA is seeking permission from the commission to stage a protest.

'Misleading and inaccurate information'

In a statement, CARA said it had written to the commission to ask for a review of the determination.

“We have discovered it was based on misleading and inaccurate information presented to the commission, including in contrasting 11/9 submissions by the police.

“This misinformation has led to a completely contradictory determination made on a morning parade just weeks ago on 13 July.

“This parade once again is an attempt to break an agreement by the Orange Order and CARA made in 2016 and was guaranteed by independent mediators.

“This appalling decision has the potential to set back the progress made since the agreement was struck,” the statement concluded.

The Parades Commission has been contacted for comment.