Anger over ‘Royal reference’ in parade ruling

Posted By: June 13, 2015

The Orange Order has expressed outrage over the Parades Commission’s determination on this year’s Tour of the North.
Story by UTV ( Ulster TV) Staff, Belfast

The commission has restricted the 13 bands to a single drumbeat while passing St Patrick’s Church in north Belfast next week.

However it has increased the distance over which the drumbeat condition applies, to reflect “earshot range” of the church.

The ruling states: “The commission has determined that a single drumbeat, or no music if Mass is being held, is the appropriate condition for this parade over the shorter stretch of the route from the Westlink junction with Clifton Street to the Union Street junction with Donegall Street.

“This condition reflects the persistence of certain bands playing provocative music.”

“THE DISTANCE OVER WHICH THE DRUMBEAT CONDITION APPLIES IS 43 METRES GREATER THAN LAST YEAR AND REFLECTS EARSHOT RANGE FROM ST PATRICK’S CHURCH.”
Parades Commission

DUP MP for north Belfast Nigel Dodds said the ruling also makes an “implicit reference” to the recent visit of Prince Charles to the church, which he said is an “utter disgrace”.

He quoted a line in the Parades Commission document that mentions: “The increased fostering of respect for the Church building upon recent high profile events there.”

Mr Dodds added: “The Royal Family should not have been brought into this issue at all.”

A statement from the Orange Order said it is appalled at the “latest ludicrous and unjustifiable determination”.

“IT IS ABSOLUTELY DESPICABLE THE COMMISSION SHOULD IMPLICITLY REFERENCE THE ROYAL FAMILY AS A JUSTIFICATION FOR THEIR ACTIONS.”
Orange Order

It said: “Shame on them for treating our future King with such contempt.

“The invented new criteria of banning music within ‘earshot’ of a place of worship not is use, is as mischievous as it is absurd, and clearly put in place to further censor Protestant heritage on the supposed shared streets of Northern Ireland’s capital city.

“Despite the unrelenting efforts of the Parades Commission to demonise the Orange Institution and the blatant intolerance of republicans to our parades, we look forward to celebrating our culture and heritage in a peaceful and traditional manner over the coming weeks.”

The Orange Order said it plans to raise the matter with Secretary of State Theresa Villiers.