Water cannon deployed at Ardoyne parade flashpoint

Orange Order parades across the North passed off relatively peacefully today, although a police water cannon was deployed after republican rioters began throwing bottles and bricks at Ardoyne in north Belfast.

Around 150 marchers managed to pass the sectarian flashpoint unscathed, but hundreds of riot police remained stationed to keep loyalist and nationalist protesters apart.

A police spokesman said: ``Parade (Ardoyne) has passed peacefully and in accordance with the Parades Commission determination. However police are dealing with some localised disorder at Brompton Park and Balholm Drive and are liaising with community representatives.''

Loyalists massed just yards from the disorder, watched by lines of police with shields, batons and helmets. A parade by dissident republicans was due to pass through the area later.

There has been trouble at Ardoyne for years. Last year many police were injured as violence flared.

July Twelfth is the culmination of the Orange marching season, when many Protestants celebrate their culture through prayer and music.

The ritual is opposed by many nationalists and has been a source of community tension for many years.

A helicopter hovered overhead and local businesses including a bar and betting shop were closed.

The occasional bottle smashed beyond police lines and officers stood in dark boiler-suited huddles of a dozen or less.

A burning car was driven at police lines but intercepted by a PSNI Landrover.

Black smoke billowed from the BMW car, wafting in the light breeze over the heavily protected officers, punctured by intermittent jets from the water cannon.

The inner city area is full of two-storey terraces of red-brick houses. Catholics and Protestants are segregated behind peace walls but live close to each other.

Earlier, the rival sides exchanged insults as the parade passed in silence with colourful banners held aloft.

A crowd of loyalist supporters greeted the marchers with cheers, chanting cultural songs perceived as inflammatory by the other side.

According to the PSNI, officers have spoken to the organisers of the Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective (republican) parade and, due to the risk to public safety, they have agreed not to come out on the Crumlin Road, near the scene of the riot.

Around 700 to 800 people are taking part in the parade.