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Insults traded between loyalists and republicans as Easter Rising parade passes through Belfast city centre

Loyalist protesters and marchers gesture at each other as the Easter Rising parade passes Royal Avenue. Picture by Cliff Donaldson
Loyalist protesters and marchers gesture at each other as the Easter Rising parade passes Royal Avenue. Picture by Cliff Donaldson Loyalist protesters and marchers gesture at each other as the Easter Rising parade passes Royal Avenue. Picture by Cliff Donaldson

A PROTEST by loyalists against an Easter Rising commemoration parade through Belfast city centre passed off without major incident on Sunday, amidst a huge police presence.

The Loyal Peoples Protest had wanted to bring 500 people onto the streets in protest against the march by the North Belfast 1916 Easter Rising Centenary Committee, but had been restricted to 150 by a Parades Commission determination.

In the end, around 70 loyalists gathered to protest as the republican parade made its way along Royal Avenue at its junction with North Street.

About 500 people had set off from the New Lodge area of north Belfast en route to Barrack Street off the Falls Road to join the main Belfast Easter Rising commemoration.

Teenagers carried images of the seven signatories of the Proclamation, followed by flute bands and supporters.

As the parade passed along the flashpoint insults and v-signs were traded between the two sides, who were kept apart by a row of police officers.

Under the Parades Commission ruling, the republican bands were ordered to play a single drum beat only as they passed the loyalist protesters.

Once they passed the line set out by the determination, the bands again struck up a tune as supporters clapped and cheered loudly.

The republican march then made its way along Castle Street to nearby Barrack Street, where it joined another few hundred who had gathered to parade to Milltown Cemetery.

Clearly keen to avoid a repeat of violence which marred an anti-internment parade and counter protest by loyalists last summer, police had come prepared for every eventuality.

A massive police operation was in force from early morning, with several streets around the bottom of Royal Avenue blocked off with screens.

Land Rovers lined Royal Avenue and surrounding streets, while officers in riot gear were interspersed along Belfast's main thoroughfare.