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Loyalists threaten to protest during Belfast Rising parade

In August 2013 loyalists and police clashed at Royal Avenue ahead of a planned anti-internment parade
In August 2013 loyalists and police clashed at Royal Avenue ahead of a planned anti-internment parade In August 2013 loyalists and police clashed at Royal Avenue ahead of a planned anti-internment parade

LOYALISTS have threatened to hold a protest during a planned republican parade through Belfast city centre next month.

The march has been organised by the 'North Belfast 1916 Easter Rising Centenary Committee' to mark the calendar anniversary of the uprising on Sunday, April 24.

Organisers say it will be the first Easter Rising parade to pass through the city centre.

Republicans normally mark the anniversary on Easter Sunday, but this year some parades are also taking place on the actual date of the rebellion.

The city centre march is expected to involve one band, Carrickhill Independent Flute Band, and up to 2,000 participants and according to organisers will be finished by 11.30am.

Those taking part will then join a larger march, dubbed ‘The People’s Parade’, which will make its way through west Belfast to Milltown Cemetery.

Last night a loyalist group, Loyal People’s Protest, which regularly protests at republican parades, said on its Facebook page it intends to oppose the city centre march.

The parade comes months after police banned republicans from marching down Royal Avenue after loyalists applied to hold several protests.

The anti-internment parade was stopped in the Oldpark area of north Belfast after the PSNI blocked the planned route.

Loyalists and police clashed on Royal Avenue in 2013 after protesters attempted to block that year’s anti-internment march.

The group behind next month's parade is made up of people from different republican backgrounds and one of the organisers, Paul Little, said they are aware there may be a protest.

“It will be the first Easter commemoration going through Belfast city centre and we will be conducting ourselves in a manner befitting those who fought in Dublin in 1916,” he said.

Mr Little said the parade will cause minimum disruption and will be clear of the city centre before shops open.

“Irish republicans can’t be banned from Belfast city centre, which appears to be happening,” he said.

Organisers said the march will start at Hallidays Road in north Belfast before proceeding through Duncairn Gardens and down the Antrim Road.

It will then pass through New Lodge, North Queen Street and Donegall Street before moving along Royal Avenue to Castle Street and Divis Street towards Barrack Street in west Belfast.

Several other parades, both republican and loyal order, are expected to take place in Belfast on the same day.

Orange Order members from Ballynafeigh in south Belfast also intend to march on Royal Avenue on April 24 as they make their way to and from Townsend Street in the Shankill Road area.

However, there is not expected to be any clash as these parades will take place in the afternoon.

Apprentice Boys in Ballynafeigh also plan to hold a parade in the Ormeau Road area.

Another parade linked to the IRSP will take place in west Belfast.