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Twaddell loyalist camp removed after Orange Order parade passes peacefully

Fr Gary Donegan is confronted at the Ardoyne shops by GARC spokesman Dee Fennell. Picture by Mal McCann
Fr Gary Donegan is confronted at the Ardoyne shops by GARC spokesman Dee Fennell. Picture by Mal McCann Fr Gary Donegan is confronted at the Ardoyne shops by GARC spokesman Dee Fennell. Picture by Mal McCann

A LOYALIST protest camp in Ardoyne has been removed after the Orange Order marched past nationalist homes in north Belfast at the weekend.

The Parades Commission gave the go-ahead for Saturday’s march after a local residents’ group, Crumlin and Ardoyne Residents’ Association (Cara) and the Orange Order, reached agreement.

Up to 60 members of Greater Ardoyne Residents’ Collective (Garc), which opposed the parade and deal, held a protest at Ardoyne shops as the parade passed by.

A march organised by Garc on Friday evening also passed off peacefully.

Loyalists had held almost daily protests in the area since Orangemen were banned from returning past nationalist homes in July 12, 2013.

The cost of policing the operation over the last three years is around £20 million.

A loyalist crowd which had gathered close to the Twaddell site cheered and clapped as Orangemen and two bands reached the flashpoint.

Garc members and supporters shouted ‘March of Shame’ as up to 250 Orangemen walked past them a short time later.

The commission had ordered two bands taking part in the parade to play only hymn music from the junction of Woodvale Road and Twaddell Avenue and the junction of Crumlin Road and Hesketh Road.

One of the bands struck up the sectarian ‘Famine Song’ on reaching the Hesketh Road junction where a second loyalist crowd had assembled to meet them.

A massive PSNI operation was put in place from early morning sparking anger with some local residents who were denied access to the Crumlin Road in the run up to the parade.

After the parade had passed former Holy Cross rector Fr Gary Donegan, was challenged by Garc spokesman Dee Fennell and other residents over his support for the Cara-Orange Order deal.

Some residents and protesters also attempted to confront Sinn Féin assembly member Gerry Kelly but their way was blocked by PSNI officers.

After the parade passed Ardoyne it made its way to Ligoneil where a short address was delivered by senior Orangemen before the crowd dispersed.

Leading figures in the dispute including, Belfast County Grand Master George Chittick, later returned to the Twaddell protest site before it was removed.

Several senior loyalists were also present at the camp site.

Men, some wearing hoods, then helped remove a caravan and cabin from the site while banners and flags were also taken down.

No unionist politicians were visible in the area.

However, speaking to the BBC on Sunday. Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson said the DUP supports the deal despite not giving it public backing prior to Saturday’s march.

“There was a feeling, lets leave the airways clear for a few days to allow the event to take place and then we can comment on it…let me clear so there is no ambiguity, we support what has happened, we endorse what has happened.”

On Sunday night, a Garc spokesman described Saturday’s events as a “disgrace”.

“The area was under military curfew from 5.30am to make way for a parade that is not wanted by the community,” he said.

“The fact that the operation took place demonstrates that there is opposition to the parade in the area.”

The Garc spokesman said opposition to loyal order parades in the area will continue.

“If there are sectarian parades Garc will protest against them,” he said.

“Nothing will change as far as we are concerned, there are still unwanted parades.”

The Orange Order’s Deputy County Grand Master Spencer Beattie welcomed the agreement.

“Today there is a sense of relief that our civil and religious liberties have been restored,” he said.

“Our campaign - your campaign - to see this achieved has been justified. Yes, it has been a difficult three years, but in the end our aim has been accomplished.”

He added that the agreement was “founded on mutual tolerance and respect”.

Sinn Féin assembly member Gerry Kelly said the agreement “heralds in a new era for the communities of North Belfast and beyond”.

“These moves will significantly reduce community tensions in the area.

“With a moratorium agreed on evening parades, communities can move into further dialogue and discussions aimed at improving relations in the area without the issue of contentious parades hanging over every conversation.”

Secretary of State James Brokenshire also welcomed also the deal.

“It sends a strong signal that dialogue can work and provides a platform of cooperation on which all involved will be able to build,” he said.

SDLP assembly member Nichola Mallon said the SDLP was present in Ardoyne during the weekend’s protests and parades.

“We were pleased to see everything pass off peacefully and the big focus now has to be that all efforts are made to adhere to that agreement,” she said.