Unionists prepared to discuss future parades

A body representing Orangemen, unionist politicians and loyalist paramilitaries in Belfast has pledged to enter talks with nationalist residents about future parades in the North.

The North and West Belfast Parades Forum said it hoped the talks could get underway in September.

Orangemen in the North have previously refused to meet with nationalists living in areas affected by the annual parades.

But the North and West Belfast Parades Forum insisted the Parades Commission had no right to ban hangers-on from following an Orange Order march through the nationalist Ardoyne area on Monday.

The PSNI ignored the Parades Commission’s ruling and allowed the hangers-on to pass through the area, sparking clashes between nationalists and the security forces.