Apprentice Boys may defy ruling on Belfast parade

The Apprentice Boys of Derry are apparently planning to defy a Parades Commission ruling by holding a march in the nationalist Ardoyne area of Belfast this Saturday.

Sources within the body said its supporters may attempt to march through the area as individuals rather than as a formal parade.

The Parades Commission has banned the Apprentice Boys from holding the march, but the ruling is only legally binding on formal parades.

If the marchers take off the collarettes, fall out of formation and begin walking past Ardoyne as individuals, they can argue that the ban doesn’t apply.