Northern Ireland

John Aughey was prominent Orangeman during Ardoyne parading dispute

John Aughey pictured leaving court during his trial. Picture by Justin Kernoghan
John Aughey pictured leaving court during his trial. Picture by Justin Kernoghan John Aughey pictured leaving court during his trial. Picture by Justin Kernoghan

JOHN Alexander Aughey was one of the most prominent Orangemen during the long-running parading dispute centring on Ardoyne.

Before he was involved in the 2015 crash which injured six people, the 63-year-old had taken part in talks to resolve the parades deadlock.

He had been involved in discussions between nationalist residents and members of the loyal orders and other groups.

Aughey, from Brae Hill Park, had been prominent in the loyalist protest at Twaddell Avenue and had acted as a spokesman for Orange lodges caught up in the dispute.

During a protest rally in 2015, he told Orangemen that the order "will not do the police's job for them".

Criticising Chief Constable George Hamilton and then Secretary of State Theresa Villiers he said: "After a year of false promises and broken pledges from the secretary of state and others this community has had enough of the platitudes.

"It is an indictment of this system that law-abiding people are being punished and mistreated on the basis of violence, intimidation and quite frankly blatantly bogus grievances."

It was reported that sharing the platform with him was Belfast County Grand Master George Chittick, PUP spokesman Winston Irvine, and Gerald Solinas, from the UPRG.

The parading dispute finally ended after the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association (Cara) and the Orange Order brokered a deal in September last year.

A spokesman for the Orange Order said last night it was not commenting on Aughey's conviction.