New stand-off on Orange parade

Riot police moved into a village today as a new stand-off developed between Orangemen and nationalist protesters in Northern Ireland.

Cars used to block a route through Dunloy, Co Antrim, where marchers involved in the huge Twelfth of July demonstrations were due to pass through had to be cleared away.

But residents in the mainly Catholic village responded by parking an articulated lorry across the entrance in a bid to disrupt any procession.

A police water canon was set up as security chiefs tried to defuse a situation involving around 150 residents.

Even though the Parades Commission had limited the Orangemen to only walking directly outside their hall, nationalists suspected they would attempt to flout the rules and stage an illegal procession.

Negotiations were launched in a bid to broker a compromise to the stand-off, which came hours after police removed protesters from a road in north Belfast.

Police said Orangemen had complied with the Parades Commission ruling.

A spokeswoman said: “The Lodge members wanted to travel by vehicle to a nearby Presbyterian Church to lay a wreath but were prevented by an illegal protest.

“Vehicles were used to block the road.”

As police chiefs urged all sides to show common sense, Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan claimed Orangemen may have planned to break the Commission ruling and reform to march into the church.

“What they did last year, however, was they formed on the main street in Dunloy and had a march, what we contend was a march and played tunes.

“That was never part of any agreement with the people of this village and it wasn’t part of the Parades Commission determination.

“The people of Dunloy have basically said this was unacceptable.”

But a spokesman for the Orange Order insisted they had complied with the determination.

John Finlay said: “The PSNI is happy to confirm what we did last year was totally within the law, the Parades Commission will also confirm that.

“The law was abided by at all times, we did not break the law.

“Unfortunately those this morning blocking the road are now breaking the law so its up to the PSNI to enforce the law.”