Nationalists to meet with Parades Commission

Nationalists from the Lower Ormeau Road in south Belfast are to meet the Parades Commission later today to voice their anger at its decision to allow a loyalist parade through the area a week from today.

The Parades Commission on Friday praised the Apprentice Boys for trying to reach agreement with the residents and ruled the parade could proceed along the Lower Ormeau Road.

The Lower Ormeau Residents said they will try to change the Parades Commission ruling and failing that take a judicial review against it through the courts.

The Apprentice Boys said they have tried to reach agreement with residents and point out that they have been repeatedly re-routed over the past two years.

The Parades Commission said there had been sustained and meaningful dialogue between the two sides, but this is challenged by the nationalist residents.

They said there have been no meetings in 13 months and that the Apprentice Boys unilaterally broke off talks in January this year.

If the march is allowed to go ahead, an attempt to block the road next Monday, with all the potential for violence that could unleash, is a strong possibility.