A SENIOR PSNI officer has called for “restraint and responsibility” during today’s Twelfth of July Orange Order parades amid serious concern about violent confrontation in Ardoyne tonight.
Assistant Chief Constable Alistair Finlay made a particular appeal to local community leaders to do their utmost to try to ensure a peaceful return parade past the Ardoyne shops tonight.
More than 75,000 Orangemen and band members are due to participate in 18 Orange Order and one Independent Orange Order main parades throughout Northern Ireland today, with many thousands lining the routes to observe. However, there is considerable anxiety that there could be a repeat of the violent scenes at Ardoyne last year. There is concern dissident republicans will seek to exploit the situation in Ardoyne to trigger violence.
Last year dissidents were blamed for firing a shot at police in Ardoyne and also for triggering the serious disturbances during which republican rioters fired petrol bombs, stones, bottles, and other missiles at the police lines and at Orange Order marchers.
Sinn Féin leaders including local North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly have appealed for calm ahead of tonight’s parade but the situation is already exacerbated by the formation of the Greater Ardoyne Residents’ Collective, or Garc, which is viewed as sympathetic to dissident republicans.
This group is expected to stage a protest at Ardoyne against the return Orange parade. A group called the Crumlin/Ardoyne Residents’ Association, or Cara, which is supported by Sinn Féin, is also due to hold a protest at the shops.
Sinn Féin and SDLP politicians have accused Garc of bringing protesters into the area and that this is adding to the tensions.
There was evidence of considerable dissident orchestration of the violence at Ardoyne last year, with crates of petrol bombs prepared in advance and stones and other missiles also prepared to be hurled at the police and Orange marchers.
Some Orange Order and political sources said that possibly the best that could be hoped for was that police would be able to keep republicans and marchers apart tonight and that “whatever violence that does occur will be limited”.
Assistant Chief Constable Finlay said he had been encouraged by how local community leaders worked to reduce sectarian violence and tension close to the Broadway roundabout the weekend before last.
He hoped that today’s parades would pass off peacefully. “The reality is that there are more than 600 parades [these include feeder parades] taking place right across Northern Ireland on the Twelfth, with more than 75,000 participants taking part,” he said.
“The vast majority pass off very peacefully with minimal policing; however, there are a small number of parades which are sensitive. Unfortunately, until long-term solutions are found, there is always the potential for disorder and damage to relationships.”
On Ardoyne tonight, he said, “In Ardoyne there is a lot of good work going on and firm community leadership being shown. We would appeal to key people with influence in both communities to continue to work to ensure the parade does not escalate into disorder.
“For our part, we are committed to continue to work alongside parade and protest organisers, politicians and local communities to ensure that agreements can be reached.”
