Loyalist march passes peacefully in flashpoint area

A bitterly contested Loyalist march in flash point north Belfast today passed peacefully.

Amid heavy security nationalist protesters blew whistles and held up placards as the Apprentice Boys walked through the predominantly Catholic Ardoyne district.

Protesters shouted ‘‘End Sectarian Marches’’ and ‘‘Scum’’ as the small group of Loyalists marched through the area accompanied by a flute band bearing the name of the Ulster Volunteer Force.

But though the area was tense there was no trouble between rival factions of about 100 on each side.

The decision to let the Loyal Order march down the Ardoyne Road provoked anger among nationalists, who said the parade to the city centre which marks the start of the loyalist marching system should have been re-routed given the history of violence clashes in the area.

North Belfast Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly, who was among the nationalist protesters, said the parade should have gone via another less contentious route.

‘‘This is a Catholic area and there is no need for it to come down here,’’ he said.

Pointing to the road’s proximity to the Holy Cross Girls Primary School, where Loyalists last year staged a three-month picket, Mr Kelly added: ‘‘This road runs parallel to the school which was blockaded by Loyalists and this isn’t even the main parade.

‘‘Why do they have to walk through a Catholic area, especially with a band bearing UVF emblems a Loyalist organisation which has caused many deaths in this area?’’