Adams in talks with loyalists over parades

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams held talks with leading loyalists today aimed at defusing tensions over controversial parades.

The discussions included the organisers of a march set to pass the Ardoyne area of North Belfast, the scene of serious rioting following an Orange Order parade last month.

After more than two hours of talks in Belfast City Hall, the first between Sinn Fein and the North & West Belfast Parades Forum, including members of the Apprentice Boys marching organisation, both sides reported progress.

Mr Adams said: “I found it a very useful exchange. We listened very, very intently to what our friends had to say about all of these issues and their sense of themselves and their sense of their section of our community in this city of Belfast.

“We are not going to sort all of this out in one meeting, these are big issues, and we have to remind ourselves of where we have all come from and how difficult this process of society building and transition is for everyone.”

The July 12 Orange Order parade at Ardoyne was followed by three nights of rioting.

Today’s talks come ahead of a parade planned for later this month by the Apprentice Boys.

But both sides in today’s talks said it was not a negotiation on the forthcoming Apprentice Boys parade, but was the beginning of a more long-term discussion.

Mr Adams said talks could reconvene in September.

He expressed hopes that the Orange Order, who have yet to accept his offer of talks, will eventually agree to similar discussions.

Forum Member and senior Apprentice Boy Tommy Cheevers echoed Mr Adams's description of the talks as constructive.

Mr Cheevers said members of his group were working to end tensions over parades.

“We are ordinary people, we are not well paid, or salaried professionals,” he said.

“We do it because we live in the community and know how important these things are and want to move forward for our children.

“The only way we can do that is to create good neighbours...some of those people who have been misbehaving on July 12 certainly don’t care one damn about the future.”

He declined to comment on whether the Orange Order should take part in talks.

The talks were held amid fears of further trouble at the Ardoyne interface in north Belfast where serious rioting erupted following a contentious Orange Order parade in the area last month.

More than 80 police officers were injured during three nights of unrest in the republican neighbourhood after the traditional Protestant Twelfth of July commemorations.

That controversial parade involved Orangemen, but later this month another loyal order – the Apprentice Boys – are due to pass the same flashpoint during their annual event.

Concerns of fresh violence intensified after a nationalist residents’ association that organised an illegal sit-down protest ahead of July’s trouble signalled its intention to demonstrate again on August 14 ahead of the Apprentice Boys parade.

While members of the Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective (GARC) were removed by police and the Orange parade passed as planned, the rioting broke out soon after.

In the wake of the clashes, Gerry Adams called for talks with loyal order leaders in bid to avert further trouble during the marching season.