Nationalist residents from the Lower Ormeau area of Belfast were tonight preparing to protest against a loyalist march after losing their latest court battle to prevent it from going ahead.
Lower Ormeau residents failed to convince three Appeal Court judges in Belfast to overturn a ruling by the Northern Ireland Parades Commission to allow the Apprentice Boys of Derry to march through their neighbourhood on Easter Monday.
As they planned a rally on Sunday to protest against the decision, the Lower Ormeau community were urged by a police chief and religious and political leaders to ensure their protest remained peaceful.
In the Appeal Court judgment Lord Justice Nicholson sympathised with the Commission who, he argued, had a "thankless task" in determining whether marches could go ahead.
This inevitably led to one section of the community or the other being offended.
The verdict was welcomed by the Parades Commission's chairman Mr Tony Holland, who said: "Both the High Court and the Appeal Court have now examined our decision, and how we reached it, in some depth and both have concluded that the Commission has arrived at its decision fairly and correctly.
"The interests and the rights of all those involved - the Apprentice Boys and the Lower Ormeau residents - will now be best served by ensuring that the parade and any protest or response are conducted with dignity and within the law."
Mr Holland said any protest against Monday's march should be dignified and peaceful and he called for the policing of the contentious parade to also be restrained.
Lower Ormeau residents described the verdict as "disappointing but not surprising".
Mr John Gormley of the Lower Ormeau Concerned Community Group said the verdict raised the question of whether the courts could really overrule Commission decisions.
"One of the judges recognised that there had not been genuine dialogue on behalf of the Apprentice Boys with ourselves and this ruling raises the question of the kind of latitude being given to the Parades Commission.
"It raises the question does the commission have too much power and the courts little control over it? "If it does, then that is obviously an issue the British Government, MPs and political parties like the SDLP and Sinn Féin will have to address."
Mr Gormley said there was a "strong mood" in the community for showing opposition to Monday's parade.
His comments came after RUC South Belfast commander Chief Superintendent Stephen Grange urged residents to show "calm and restraint" by protesting in a lawful and dignified manner.
In an open letter confirming there would be a strong police presence in the area, he explained: "The police in South Belfast are responsible for ensuring that Monday morning's parade on the Ormeau Road passes off without disturbance and with the minimum disruption to residents.
"To that end the police are appealing for calm and restraint."There were also calls on residents to respect the decision by the Presbyterian Moderator in Ireland, Dr Trevor Morrow and the cross community Alliance Party.
However, Sinn Féin Assembly member Alex Maskey warned police that their nationalist community would be closely monitoring their actions on Monday.
PA