UVF parade passes peacefully

The parade in Ballysillan passed off without incident

A loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force parade has passed off without incident in north Belfast.

Up to 20 bands from the 36th Ulster Division Association and supporters took part in the parade in Ballysillan, which was held to lay wreaths at a new UVF mural near Ballysillan leisure centre.

Police and army units were drafted into the area as part of a major security operation.

There had been fears that rival loyalist factions would clash over the demonstration.

Tension

The mural has been a source of tension between supporters of the UVF and the rival Loyalist Volunteer Force,

Claims that the mural was defaced by LVF supporters provoked anger among UVF supporters.

In recent weeks there have been a string of tit-for-tat gun and arson attacks on homes in Ballysillan linked to the tension.

One of the houses attacked belongs to a campaign worker for the Progressive Unionist Party, which is linked to the UVF.

PUP assembly member Billy Hutchinson said he believed some of the other attacks were a reaction to the UVF mural being attacked.

Appeals for calm

Loyalist and unionist politicians including outgoing North Belfast Ulster Unionist MP Cecil Walker called for calm to precede and follow the parade.

His appeals were echoed by Billy Hutchinson and John White, spokesman for the Ulster Democratic Party, which is linked to the Ulster Defence Association/ Ulster Freedom Fighters.

Tensions between the UDA/UFF and UVF in areas of Belfast and in County Armagh have increasingly involved the LVF, a splinter group which broke from the UVF under Billy Wright's leadership in Portadown.