PERMISSION FOR a flute band to accompany Belfast members of the Apprentice Boys as they march past a north Belfast sectarian flashpoint on Saturday has again been turned down by the Parades Commission.
The commission, meeting in Belfast last night, had originally refused permission for the Shankill Star flute band, which commemorates loyalist killer Brian Robinson who shot dead Ardoyne man Paddy McKenna in 1989, to lead the parade.
An application was then made for a replacement band, the Hillview flute band which is also from the Shankill area of Belfast, to accompany members of the Ligoniel Walkers Apprentice Boys on their parade which is scheduled for early on Saturday.
The commission, which rules on contentious parades, decided last night to stand by its original decision on Monday and to refuse permission for a band to lead the parade.
Permission has been granted to about 40 members of the Apprentice Boys to proceed from Ligoniel in north Belfast along the Crumlin Road and past the scene at Ardoyne of serious and sustained rioting following the Twelfth of July demonstrations last month.
But the commission said no bandsmen or supporters could parade with the Apprentice Boys members along the contested section of the proposed route at Ardoyne.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that several key amendments have been proposed to the draft Parades Bill due to be introduced to the Northern Ireland Assembly next month. The main change will be the removal of public meetings from the remit of the legislation, according to First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
Full details of the amendments which followed a consultation process are due to be announced later today.
Mr Robinson said: “The public consultation process indicated concern that open-air and other similar public meetings would be captured by the legislation. This was not the intention and this amendment will absolutely clarify this.
“Furthermore, we intend to address any confusion about the references to human rights in the legislation to make clear that these references indicate a framework based on the European Convention on Human Rights.”
Mr McGuinness said: “This process brings a new beginning to dealing with parades based on mutual respect and the rights of citizens to be free from all forms of harassment.”