Orange leaders urged to observe Parades Commission rulings after peaceful Whiterock event

SPRINGFIELD ROAD residents' group Seán Murray, speaking to An Phoblacht, said he hopes that the peaceful outcome from Saturday's annual Whiterock Orange parade on the Springfield Road was “a sign of things to come”.

Despite the tension ratcheted up by unionists who threatened to stage a protest on the nationalist-populated road, the parade itself passed off peacefully.

Unionists had applied to protest on the Springfield Road but the Parades Commission refused them permission. However, those behind the protest, using social media, threatened to to go ahead with a protest, thereby heightening fears of trouble.

In the end, their protest never materialised and the day passed quietly.

With rulings expected on the contentious Ardoyne parade on the Twelfth due in the coming days, Seán Murray called on the leaders of Orangeism and those in the political leadership of unionism to adhere to the Parades Commission's determinations.

"Nationalists may not always like the determinations issued by the Parades Commission but we obey them. So I am calling on those with influence in the Orange Order and the unionist political parties to show leadership to ensure a peaceful July.”