Residents call on Order to accept negotiations

The Garvaghy Road residents' spokesman has called on the Orange Order to accept that any negotiations may result in no parade ever going down the contested route.

Breandan Mac Cionnaith said: “They must give a commitment to a possible outcome that there will be no parade down the Garvaghy Road.”

As the march made its way past the Catholic chapel at the top of the blocked-off road, numbers on both sides were down and there was no repeat of the angry exchanges of previous years.

Mr Mac Cionnaith claimed Orangemen may have decided that it suits their purpose to ensure no violence erupted.

“This year I think you will see the Orange Order once again switching the off button but given the experience of Drumcree one swallow doesn’t make a summer.”