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Restrictions imposed on Ormeau Road Apprentice Boys parade

Barry O'ConnorBBC News NI
Getty A bird's-eye view of Ormeau Bridge. There are cars on the road. There is also trees either side of the river. On the left you can see buildings.Getty
The parade is prohibited from crossing Ormeau Bridge at its junction with the Annadale Embankment

The Parades Commission have imposed restrictions on a march by the Belfast Walker Club, a local branch of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, on the Ormeau Road.

The branch has been told it cannot walk down the mainly nationalist Lower Ormeau Road.

The parade is prohibited from crossing Ormeau Bridge at its junction with the Annadale Embankment or from entering that section of Ormeau Road between the junction of Ormeau Bridge and Annadale Embankment and the junction of Ormeau Road and Havelock Bridge.

The commission received submissions from a number of groups and individuals, including the organisers, residents of the Lower Ormeau Road, residents of the wider area, the police and political parties.

The parade is scheduled to take place on Saturday 7 November, with 80 participants and one band expected to take part.

It was due to begin at Ballynafeigh Orange Hall at 09:30 GMT and travel along the Ormeau Road towards Donegall Pass, where participants planned to join a Remembrance parade.

The commission said allowing the march to proceed along its proposed route would cause significant disruption to the local community, with the potential for disorder and harm to community relations.

A protest involving 1,500 participants has also been notified to take place at Ormeau Bridge.

The commission said police had highlighted increased tensions over parading following recent events at Garvaghy Road in Portadown, as well as sectarian attacks on memorials in the Lower Ormeau Road area.

Lower Ormeau Concerned Community (LOCC) spokesperson Gerard Rice said many people had been in touch to express their relief at the decision.

"Following the recent events at Drumcree there was a natural concern that the Parades Commission might get it wrong," he said.

"We hope that today's decision will be maintained through the year ahead."

Sinn Féin assembly member Deirdre Hargey said the "decision is the correct one".

"There was never any basis or justification for taking the community of the lower Ormeau Road back 27 years."