Loyalists in north Belfast are now worried about the prospects for dialogue between marchers, nationalist residents and the police following Saturday's loyalist parade near Ardoyne.
Some 24 Apprentice Boys, led by Mr Tommy Cheevers, and a band of about 30, reluctantly agreed to be bussed past a flashpoint area in Ardoyne in keeping with a ruling by the Parades Commission. Between 50 and 75 loyalist onlookers also gathered at the police blockade.
The bus was driven past a small group of Ardoyne residents, observers and Sinn Féin and SDLP members. There were no incidents and the Apprentice Boys continued their parade a short distance away before leaving for the Relief of Derry commemorations.
However, loyalist representatives in the area, Protestant ministers and elected representatives were furious that the PSNI and British army did not reopen the Crumlin Road for 45 minutes after the marchers and bandsmen had been transported through the contentious section of their intended route.
Some 350 police officers along with armoured vehicles were available for deployment in the area supported by an unknown number of British soldiers, vehicles and an army helicopter overhead.
There was speculation that police were anxious not to have a repeat of the violence following an Orange parade through the same area on July 12th. On Saturday, the PSNI did not remove their blockade, formed by three military vehicles, several officers in body armour and members of the army's Fusiliers regiment, until onlookers and parade supporters had moved away.
This was despite appeals from members of the North and West Belfast Parades Forum for the police to allow free passage after the parade as quickly as possible.
One trusted source on the forum told The Irish Times that the police action was counter-productive and that loyalists working to maintain calm on the Protestant side were "incandescent" at what had happened.
The source feared for prospects for a parade by the Black institution on August 28th, saying Protestants would find it difficult to agree to policing tactics that closed the Crumlin Road for a period of hours.
Referring to what he saw as an over-reaction by the PSNI, Mr Billy Hutchinson, of the Progressive Unionists, said: "This was totally ridiculous for the number of people that have turned up here."
He levelled most of his criticisms at the police, but added: "Obviously we've got issues with the people of Ardoyne for not wanting a parade to go down the road at 8 o'clock in the morning but those are things we need to talk out. If we get the opportunity we'll do it."
Mr Fred Cobain, a forum member and Ulster Unionist, said of the large police presence: "All it does is cause tension and makes it more difficult for us and future parades."
Mr Martin Morgan, of the SDLP, was pleased with the police operation and the fact that the bussing of marchers had been incident-free. He commended the behaviour of both marchers and residents and said: "We are up and open for dialogue."
Mr Gerry Kelly, of Sinn Féin, said Ardoyne residents had always been prepared to engage in dialogue. "We now have a public promise from the North and West Belfast Parades Forum to go into talks in September. So let's do that, let's see where we can go with the dialogue."