28 April 2005 Edition

Resize: A A A Print

Devenny slams PSNI over loyalist parade decision

Sinn Féin Short Strand candidate in the forthcoming elections, Deborah Devenny, has criticised the PSNI over its decision to allow an illegal Orange march pass St Matthew's Catholic Church in East Belfast on Saturday 23 April.

Around 300 members of the Ballymacarret Lodge and an accompanying band walked around the nationalist enclave before marching past St Matthew's, which fronts onto the Newtownards Road.

Devenny accused the PSNI of ignoring a Parades Commission ruling that the march was illegal after Ballymacarret District NO 6 failed to properly fill in its marching application form.

"This parade was allowed to go ahead despite being illegal and provocative," she said. "Residents are asking what's the point of the Parades Commission when the Orange Order ignores it and the PSNI allows these parades to go ahead."

Devenny also pointed out that a peaceful nationalist demonstration, approved by the Parades Commission, was restricted by the PSNI.

It is now feared that the Orange Order will use this latest tactic, refusing to fill in the application for a parade, to ensure that it is the PSNI and not the Parades Commission which rules on controversial parades.


An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland