News

Loyalist protesters back on road

LOYALISTS blocked a lane along a busy north Belfast road last night as part of a protest linked to the ongoing parades row.

A small group of people blocked part of the road, close to the junction of Fortwilliam Park and Shore Road, at about 7.45pm. After several minutes, they changed the protest to a whiteline picket. Other loyalist protests were held on Sandy Row in Belfast, Antrim, Bangor and Greyabbey.

The protests came after the head of the Orange Order called for demonstrations against the Parades Commission's "ongoing and persistent demonisation" of Orangemen.

Edward Stevenson, grand master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, made the call on Saturday at a march in north Belfast to mark 600 days of the 'camp Twad-dell' parade protest.

"I would encourage Orange brethren and our supporters to demonstrate their displeasure at the current situation by holding peaceful and legal protests across Northern Ireland, at times and locations of their choosing, over the coming weeks," he said.

"Such rallies, which will be entirely lawful, will be held in solidarity with our Orange brethren here at Ligoniel, and Drumcree, and will be a public show of our dissatisfaction at the ongoing and persistent demonisation of our loyal institution."