Conditions on loyal order marches

The Apprentice Boys are to parade on 10 August

Restrictions have been placed on a number of Protestant Apprentice Boys parades in Northern Ireland next Saturday.

However, the Northern Ireland Parades Commission has not placed any conditions on a controversial march in north Belfast.

It has also criticised the behaviour of supporters of the Protestant Orange Order in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast on 12 July.

On Friday, the commission issued determinations which placed restrictions on the marches in Kilrea, Castlederg, Dunloy, Armagh, Bellaghy, Keady and Lurgan.

Flashpoint

The commission said this reflected "a lack of commitment to dialogue or resolution between the parade organisers and the host communities" in those areas.

However, no conditions have been put on a march down the Crumlin Road which passes the flashpoint Ardoyne shops area of north Belfast.

Music and followers will be restricted in the most sensitive part of the route.

In its determination the commission said it fully "recognised the high tensions and divisions in the area".

It also criticised an Orange Order parade along the same route on 12 July.

"The commission was appalled at the nature of the Orange parade which passed the Ardoyne shop fronts on the evening of the 12th July," it said.

"The behaviour of the supporters and followers did little to create confidence in that organiser's ability to manage further parades in this area responsibly"

However, the commission made a distinction between the two organisations.

It said it recognised that the Ligoniel Walker Club of the Apprentice Boys had no history of "uncivil, provocative, unlawful or violent behaviour".

'Traditional'

It said the club had "demonstrated a commitment to dialogue and engagement at this location together with a high standard of parade management".

The commission said it expected such high standards, including respect towards their host community, to be maintained on 10 August.

It said it "encourages the Ardoyne residents to demonstrate tolerance and understanding of the positive aspects of this small, traditional and early morning parade".

In April, a contentious Protestant Apprentice Boys parade in the Ardoyne area of Belfast passed off peacefully.

The start of the parade was delayed by a hoax bomb alert.

The Northern Ireland Parades Commission was set up in 1997 to make decisions on whether controversial parades should be restricted.