'Absurd' Apprentice Boys' parade through Ardoyne

'To nationalists it looks like nothing more than a coat-trailing exercise'

THE ABSURDITY of loyal orders' insistence on marching through nationalist neighbourhoods just to show they can has been highlighted by Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly after the Apprentice Boys parading through Ardoyne this morning before getting on a bus to go back the way they had just walked to be driven to where they're actually going.

The North Belfast MLA said:

“The Apprentice Boys parade is in Derry but this parade [in Belfast] actually goes in the opposite direction to march through the nationalist areas of Ardoyne, Mountainview and the Dales before boarding a bus to head back the other way. This is the absurdity of such a parade and to nationalists it looks like nothing more than a coat-trailing exercise.

“Thankfully, this morning’s parade passed off peacefully. The loyal orders need to step up to the mark and engage with local residents on a face to face basis if we are to resolve these small number of contentious parades.”