THE route of a loyalist parade through a Co Antrim village later this week has been restricted.
The Parades Commission last night ruled that Friday’s annual Ballymaconnelly Sons of Conquerors Flute Band march through Rasharkin can enter the village just once.
In previous years the parade passed through the village before following a route along country roads and re-entering it again via Glebe Road.
The commission has now ruled that the parade will not be allowed to return to the village but instead must continue to its starting point along a country road to an area known as the Turnpike.
Bands taking part in the parade were previously ordered to play only a single drum along a section of the route in the mainly nationalist village.
In a determination issued yesterday it also emerged that restriction has now been lifted.
The time allowed for the parade has also been restricted to 90 minutes from 7.30pm and 9pm compared to last year when it was given a two-hour window from 7pm to 9pm.
Up to 25 bands are expected to take part in Friday’s march and organisers have been told that “flags, bannerettes and symbols relating to a proscribed organisation shall in no circumstances be displayed”.
Two nationalist residents groups have been granted permission to hold small protests - with no more than 25 people at each – along a section of the route.
One of the groups, Rasharkin Residents’ Collective (RRC) had offered to end its long-running protest if the Parades Commission restricted the route of the contentious loyalist march.
It was due to meet last night to discuss the determination.
Another group, Rasharkin Residents’ Association (RRA), was also expected to hold a meeting.
North Antrim MLA Philip McGuigan welcomed the route restriction.
“This has been an issue the RRA has continually raised with the commission and this restriction will mean the village will return to normality much earlier than in previous years,” he said.
“Anything to reduce tension in Rasharkin must be welcome by us all.”
RRC spokesman Sean Hanna said: “We are happy the people of the Glebe Road will not be subjected to the second return into the village,” he said.
He also voiced concern at the behaviour of members of the Apprentice Boys during a parade in Rasharkin at the weekend.
Ballymoney DUP councillor John Finlay was critical of the commission decision.
“This year, the commission has further pandered to hard-line republicans by refusing the parade permission to walk along Glebe Road and instead insisting that it goes straight to the Turnpike,” he said.
“This has been a key demand of militant republicans and they stated that if this was acceded to by the commission, they would drop their protest.
“The Parades Commission should have learned that if you feed a crocodile it will come back for more, as it is my understanding that, despite this concession, their protest has not been abandoned at all.”
