Orange Order urged to cancel new Ardoyne protests and talk to residents

» Mark Moloney

'The Orange Order must show leadership. It cannot continue to think that weekly protests will move this situation on'

THE Orange Order has been urged to end its weekly protests after it was banned from marching past the nationalist Ardoyne area and is instead being asked engage with nationalist residents to find a peaceful solution.

The calls came after the Order applied on Monday to again march past the mainly nationalist Ardoyne area of Belfast despite opposition from local residents.

It is believed the Orange Order may hold weekly protests for the foreseeable future after the Parades Commission banned their contentious march from passing through the area on 12 July. That decision resulted in a week of rioting by loyalists which left dozens wounded.

Sinn Féin North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly said the application for yet another parade “is not the action of a body seeking to diffuse the situation” and said it would be viewed  by the majority of people as an attempt to create a Drumcree-style stand-off during the summer months.

“The Orange Order must show leadership,” he said. “It cannot continue to think that weekly protests will move this situation on. I am also urging political unionism to use whatever influence it has to ensure that this situation does not escalate and that talks are presented as the only way forward.”

Local Councillor John Blair of the unionist Alliance Party also called on the Orange Order to conentrate on talks and withdraw any further applications to march past Ardoyne, adding:

“Tensions will not be calmed by continued protests.”

A protest held by the Orange Order and supporters on Saturday was largely peaceful but required a large policing operation.