Belfast prepares for first contentious Orange march

The first seriously contentious parade of this year’s loyalist marching season takes place later today in north Belfast.

The Parades Commission is due to make a final ruling on the route for the march this morning. The original route for the Tour of the North parade was due to pass through a Catholic area where violence has broken out in recent years, so the commission decided to re-route it.

However, the Orange Order drew up its own alternative route and this was subsequently accepted by the Parades Commission, much to the annoyance of Sinn Fein, which protested the decision.

A final ruling will be made this morning.