The 2016 agreement which brought an end to a dispute over an Orange Order parade in north Belfast has collapsed. The dispute in question centres around a parade past the Ardoyne shops on the evening of 12 July, which a nationalist residents’ group have planned to protest against. The Parades Commission will rule on the matter in two weeks, with the police monitoring developments closely.
Sinn Fein North Belfast MLA, Gerry Kelly, expressed his concern over the parade, stating that it contravenes the 2016 agreement. The Order has accused Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association (Cara) of “weaponised” engagement and “bad-faith dialogue.” The Order has also reaffirmed its commitment to its right to hold an evening return march, stating that it “no matter the opposition or threat of violence.”
The 2016 deal was negotiated between various Orange lodges and Cara. According to the agreement, Cara agreed not to object to any existing morning parades whilst the lodges agreed to a “voluntary moratorium” on applying for evening return parades. The hope was that the moratorium allowed for a process between the lodges and Cara to reach agreement on future return parades.
Despite the 2016 agreement defusing what had become a highly contentious parading issue in Northern Ireland, there have been recent attempts by the Order to reassert its right to an evening return march. Last year, applications to parade past Ardoyne shops in the evening almost undermined the 2016 agreement. However, the situation was defused and no parade took place.
The Parades Commission is now due to take soundings before ruling on this latest dispute on 3 July
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