A loyalist band has admitted it made "a conscious decision" to breach a Parades Commission ruling not to play music while passing St Patrick’s Church.
Bangor Protestant Boys made the admission after it played music during an Apprentice Boys parade past the Donegall Street Church on Saturday.
It is believed the band also played the sectarian Famine Song close to the church as it returned from Apprentice Boys celebrations in Derry.
The band claimed it played "a well known church hymn" while passing St Patrick’s.
A spokesman for the Clifton Street branch of the Apprentice Boys last night said it supported the stand taken by the band outside St Patrick’s.
The Parades Commission had earlier ruled that no music should be played while passing the church or the nearby nationalist district of Carrick Hill during the parade.
It has also been claimed music was also played as the band passed Carrick Hill.
Bangor Protestant Boys, which wears UVF-style insignia and has in the past been pictured carrying paramilitary-linked flags, caused controversy when it played the Famine Song within earshot of St Patrick’s during an Apprentice Boys parade on Easter Monday.
Prominent flag protester Jamie Bryson is a leading member and took part in Saturday’s parade.
It is understood the decision to play music past St Patrick’s was taken after the Apprentice Boys were told they were being reported by police for breaching a determination during the morning parade.
In a statement posted on social media, Bangor Protestant Boys said they "took a conscious decision to breach the draconian, oppressive and utterly ludicrous determination issued by the anti Protestant and unelected quango - the Parades Commission."
"We have watched the predictable actions of the Parades Commission who use every single determination as a baseline to further impose more conditions. The ultimate trajectory of compliance with these conditions is the total eradication of all we hold dear.
"In light of this we took the decision to make a stand in defence of our culture, traditions and very way of life. We have done so in a non-violent and peaceful act of civil disobedience. We make no apology for this."
Apprentice Boys spokesman Chris McGimpsey said the organisation supports the band.
"The band said they were going to play a hymn within the designated area and the Apprentice Boys club supported them in that decision," he said.
Mr McGimpsey, a former UUP member of Belfast City Council, said no determinations were breached during the morning parade.
"Having behaved properly we were advised the police had reported us for breaching it (the determination)," he said.
"We decided to support them playing one tune but it had to be a sacred hymn."
In relation to the Famine Song Mr McGimpsey said he "would have preferred it had not been played."
Nationalist residents in Carrick Hill ended a three-year protest opposing loyal order parades in the area last month.
Spokesman Frank Dempsey said the local community is angry at the latest breach.
"The bands are dictating the policy of loyal order parades and this is a prime example," he said.
Belfast Sinn Féin councillor JJ Magee urged unionist politicians to challenge the behaviour of loyalist bands.
"Not only did they flaunt the determination but they also showed enormous disrespect by playing the hate tune, the Famine Song, as they approached the church," he said.
"We need to see leadership from political unionism to bring an end to this disgraceful triumphalism which is designed only to stick two fingers up at the parishioners of St Patrick's."
