Mayor appeals for calm during parades

Belfast Lord Mayor Martin Morgan has appealed for calm over the main parades weekend in the North.

He called on all those involved in parading over the coming days to exercise “level-headedness and common sense”.

He said the next few days were “notoriously difficult ones” for people throughout the North, and it was important the 12th of July parades passed off peacefully.

Mr Morgan appealed: “At this time of year tensions are normally high and it is important that all those with influence in the community exercise that influence to ensure that parades pass off without incident.

“Citizens throughout Belfast should be able to live safely in their home and go about their normal business on their streets without fear of intimidation or harm,” he said.

Meanwhile the Parades Commission decision to allow an Orange Order feeder parade to pass through the Ardoyne area of north Belfast on Saturday is being challenged.

A resident has gone to the court to challenge the decision to allow the parade to pass through the area both on the way to and on the way back from the main parade.

The resident has been granted leave to apply for a judicial review in the High Court which will be heard later.