Loyalist parade passes peacefully

Spokesperson for Ardoyne residents, Joe Marley, welcomed the peaceful outcome to last Friday’s Tour of the North loyalist parade in North Belfast.
Marley was speaking to An Phoblacht after loyalist bandsmen and two Orange Lodges paraded past nationalist homes along the Crumlin Road and Ardoyne on Friday evening 15 June.
The Ardoyne man praised the restraint of residents who held a peaceful, dignified protest as the Orange marchers walked past the area close to the Ardoyne shops.
In the days leading up to the Tour of the North parade, which has seen serious trouble throughout North Belfast in recent years, nationalist residents engaged in dialogue with representatives of the loyalist community in efforts to ensure that Friday nights events passed off peacefully.
“We are relieved at how things turned out tonight”, said Joe Marley, “we hope this is an indication of how things will go throughout the summer”.
Sinn Féin councillor for the area, Margaret McClenaghan also welcomed the peaceful outcome of Friday night’s parade and paid a tribute to the republican stewards who, “worked tirelessly to ensure that our community didn’t become embroiled in violence”.