News

Bands can play hymns on contentious stretch

LOYALIST bands will be allowed to play music as they pass St Patrick's Church and Carrick Hill in three parades due to take place over the course of one week. The Parades Commission last night issued determinations for the three contentious marches that will pass the flashpoints. The commission has ruled that bandsmen can play hymns on a contentious stretch between Clifton Street Orange Hall and the junction of Donegall Street and Union Street, which means they can play religious music as they pass both the nationalist Carrick Hill area and St Patrick's Church. The conditions imposed differ from those imposed on tonight's Tour of the North parade along the same stretch where bandsmen are forbidden from playing hymns as they march by Carrick Hill and are restricted instead to a single drumbeat. The three parades will take place on June 30, July 1 and July 7 and, as is the case for tonight's parade, supporters are banned from walking along the contentious stretch.

Maeve Connolly