Loyalist marching season begins

Orange marchers pass the Short Strand nationalist enclave in East Belfast

The loyalist marching season, which began on Easter Monday morning, saw nationalist residents on the streets to object that once again their areas were being subjected to a heavy PSNI presence to allow unwanted marches pass through.

In the Short Strand area, the Whitewell Defenders Band, which carries loyalist paramilitary flags, was escorted by the PSNI along the Newtownards Road to the dismay of residents and community workers.

A nationalist protest along the Ardoyne Road in North Belfast passed off peacefully, after approximately 50 members of the Apprentice Boys marched by the area at nine in the morning on Monday 12 April.

Nationalist residents gathered across the street from a crowd of unionist supporters as the march made its way down the Crumlin Road. The protesters held aloft placards proclaiming "No Talk, No Walk" as the unionists passed.