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Belfast braces for night-time protests after Orange parade passes peacefully Belfast braces for night-time protests after Orange parade passes peacefully
(2 months later)
The most contentious parade of the Ulster loyalist marching season has passed off peacefully in north Belfast but there are fears of widespread disorder later as the Orange Order was banned from returning by the same route home.The most contentious parade of the Ulster loyalist marching season has passed off peacefully in north Belfast but there are fears of widespread disorder later as the Orange Order was banned from returning by the same route home.
Orangemen, loyalist bands and their supporters, flanked by a phalanx of heavily armoured riot police, marched past the Ardoyne shops along the Crumlin Road while a small group of local Catholic residents held a silent protest.Orangemen, loyalist bands and their supporters, flanked by a phalanx of heavily armoured riot police, marched past the Ardoyne shops along the Crumlin Road while a small group of local Catholic residents held a silent protest.
Among the police taking part in the massive security operation to keep apart republicans and loyalists were officers from English constabularies that Matt Baggott, the Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable, called in for backup as the parading season reached its climax.Among the police taking part in the massive security operation to keep apart republicans and loyalists were officers from English constabularies that Matt Baggott, the Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable, called in for backup as the parading season reached its climax.
The sectarian divisions in the city, to which the US president, Barack Obama, referred in his pre-G8 speech in Belfast a few weeks ago, were laid bare later on Friday morning in bitter verbal exchanges outside St Patrick's Catholic church in Donegall Street.The sectarian divisions in the city, to which the US president, Barack Obama, referred in his pre-G8 speech in Belfast a few weeks ago, were laid bare later on Friday morning in bitter verbal exchanges outside St Patrick's Catholic church in Donegall Street.
Catholic residents from the nearby Carrick Hill area claimed loyalist bandsmen shouted: "Stick a poker up the Pope's hole," and played songs including the Ulster protestant anthem The Sash.Catholic residents from the nearby Carrick Hill area claimed loyalist bandsmen shouted: "Stick a poker up the Pope's hole," and played songs including the Ulster protestant anthem The Sash.
The Sinn Féin cultural minister in the power-sharing devolved government, Caral Ní Chuilín, claimed loyalist bands had breached legal rulings banning them from playing sectarian tunes outside St Patrick's.The Sinn Féin cultural minister in the power-sharing devolved government, Caral Ní Chuilín, claimed loyalist bands had breached legal rulings banning them from playing sectarian tunes outside St Patrick's.
As Orangemen filed past through riot police lines, including Ní Chuilín's ministerial colleague the Democratic Unionist assemblyman Nelson McCausland, she admitted this year's marching season, together with loyalist protests over restrictions on the union flag being flown at Belfast city hall, had set back community relations.As Orangemen filed past through riot police lines, including Ní Chuilín's ministerial colleague the Democratic Unionist assemblyman Nelson McCausland, she admitted this year's marching season, together with loyalist protests over restrictions on the union flag being flown at Belfast city hall, had set back community relations.
"The only way relations can improve is if there is dialogue between all sides in these disputes. The people of Carrick Hill are not asking for much. They don't want the march banned from passing by St Patrick's. They just want to be shown some respect for the church and their community," she said."The only way relations can improve is if there is dialogue between all sides in these disputes. The people of Carrick Hill are not asking for much. They don't want the march banned from passing by St Patrick's. They just want to be shown some respect for the church and their community," she said.
Among those following the loyalist parade from the Upper Crumlin Road into central Belfast was the former EastEnders star and Sky television presenter Ross Kemp. He categorically denied reports circulating in the city that he had help ignite one of the loyalist bonfires that are lit at midnight to mark the beginning of the 12 July celebrations.Among those following the loyalist parade from the Upper Crumlin Road into central Belfast was the former EastEnders star and Sky television presenter Ross Kemp. He categorically denied reports circulating in the city that he had help ignite one of the loyalist bonfires that are lit at midnight to mark the beginning of the 12 July celebrations.
"That is complete bullshit," he told the Guardian as police escorted the Ardoyne loyalist parade towards a group of supporters who greeted them in Twaddell Avenue in the Greater Shankill area."That is complete bullshit," he told the Guardian as police escorted the Ardoyne loyalist parade towards a group of supporters who greeted them in Twaddell Avenue in the Greater Shankill area.
"I just hope that everything passes off peacefully today because so much has been achieved here in Northern Ireland since the signing of the Good Friday agreement. I have been speaking to all sides over the last week while I am here making my film," Kemp added."I just hope that everything passes off peacefully today because so much has been achieved here in Northern Ireland since the signing of the Good Friday agreement. I have been speaking to all sides over the last week while I am here making my film," Kemp added.
The North Belfast Democratic Unionist MP Nigel Dodds, who took part in the controversial march, denounced the decision by the Parades Commission to ban the return parade.The North Belfast Democratic Unionist MP Nigel Dodds, who took part in the controversial march, denounced the decision by the Parades Commission to ban the return parade.
Dodds said: "Tensions are running very, very high and we have to get through this morning as peaceably as we can.Dodds said: "Tensions are running very, very high and we have to get through this morning as peaceably as we can.
"We want to have a good day on the 12th and there's no reason why there should be any trouble or violence.""We want to have a good day on the 12th and there's no reason why there should be any trouble or violence."
During the march past St Patrick's church at least two Orange lodges paid tribute to Drummer Lee Rigby, the young soldier murdered in horrific circumstances in London who was buried on Friday.During the march past St Patrick's church at least two Orange lodges paid tribute to Drummer Lee Rigby, the young soldier murdered in horrific circumstances in London who was buried on Friday.
Orangemen unfurled banners with pictures of the young soldier as well as another painted on the side of a drum.Orangemen unfurled banners with pictures of the young soldier as well as another painted on the side of a drum.
More than 30,000 Orangemen and their supporters, accompanied by flute and accordion bands, are taking part in 550 parades to mark King William of Orange's victory over the Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. The vast majority of these marches are peaceful and non-contentious.More than 30,000 Orangemen and their supporters, accompanied by flute and accordion bands, are taking part in 550 parades to mark King William of Orange's victory over the Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. The vast majority of these marches are peaceful and non-contentious.
A joint statement from the two main loyalist paramilitary organisations, the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Ulster Defence Association, said that while they were prepared to steward supporters attending the early morning march past Ardoyne to ensure peace on the streets, they would not prevent anyone wanting to take part in protests on Friday evening against the ban on the return route.A joint statement from the two main loyalist paramilitary organisations, the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Ulster Defence Association, said that while they were prepared to steward supporters attending the early morning march past Ardoyne to ensure peace on the streets, they would not prevent anyone wanting to take part in protests on Friday evening against the ban on the return route.
Sectarian divisions were not only the schisms on open display in north Belfast on Friday. The silent protest against the Orange march past Ardoyne also contained messages of dissent directed against Sinn Féin.Sectarian divisions were not only the schisms on open display in north Belfast on Friday. The silent protest against the Orange march past Ardoyne also contained messages of dissent directed against Sinn Féin.
Members of the Greater Ardoyne Residents Coalition, which includes well-known dissident republicans, held up banners stating: "So much for your Ireland of equals!" – a cynical reference to one of Sinn Féin's key mantras. Another painted banner depicted Orangemen in sashes and bowler hats marching on top of Catholics with the slogan: "1969 – Old Stormont. 2012 – New Stormont" – a thinly veiled attack on Sinn Féin's participation in power-sharing with unionists at the Northern Ireland assembly.Members of the Greater Ardoyne Residents Coalition, which includes well-known dissident republicans, held up banners stating: "So much for your Ireland of equals!" – a cynical reference to one of Sinn Féin's key mantras. Another painted banner depicted Orangemen in sashes and bowler hats marching on top of Catholics with the slogan: "1969 – Old Stormont. 2012 – New Stormont" – a thinly veiled attack on Sinn Féin's participation in power-sharing with unionists at the Northern Ireland assembly.
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