The "Tour of the North" loyalist parade is expected to pass without major incident in Belfast.
The Parades Commission, which issues directives on contested parades, has not issued any legally binding ruling in respect of the march following a locally-agreed accommodation between bodies representing the marchers and Ardoyne nationalist residents. They have agreed that a low-key parade will pass the Ardoyne shops flashpoint this evening without music or flags on their return to loyalist areas of north Belfast. In return, only a token protest will be mounted at the sectarian interface.
Ardoyne parish priest Fr Aidan Troy told The Irish Times the mood was one of hope that the violence of last summer would not be repeated. "There is a tremendous desire to see this work," he said. "But some are afraid to hope too much."
Fr Troy and Church of Ireland Canon Trevor Williams made a point of appearing on local TV bulletins, while Ulster Unionist Assembly member Fred Cobain stood by Sinn Féin's Kathy Stanton for interviews.
However, one source said it was feared locally that the situation could deteriorate after the march had passed Ardoyne and that police could feel restrained as no specific ruling was in force.