AN Orange lodge has said it will fully cooperate with an investigation by Belfast City Council after footage emerged of a loyalist flute band playing in the public area of city hall.
The video, which was shared on social media, showed Govan Protestant Boys parading to applause and cheers.
The Scottish band was attending a dinner in the building organised by the George Telford Memorial Orange Lodge.
Yesterday the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland released a statement on behalf of the lodge, saying the private function was part of its centenary celebrations.
“We are aware of videos circulating on social media of Govan Protestant Boys playing within the public area of city hall," a spokesperson said.
“As a lodge, we will fully cooperate with the investigation of Belfast City Council. We will make no further public comment at this stage.”
SDLP north Belfast councillor Carl Whyte said he has asked the council chief executive to investigate the video.
“I was shocked to see the footage over the weekend. Bandsmen marching through the corridors, beating drums with crowds of supporters shouting in their wake. It appears disrespectful of our shared civic space...," he said.
“Our civic spaces must be open and welcoming to everyone in this city. There are spaces for events, performances and cultural celebrations in City Hall. The corridors of a working building are not that space."
He added: “Last week we had a totally preventable argument about Irish language signage outside leisure centres. This week we’ll be arguing over a band parade.
"It feels like we’re reheating old arguments from 30 years ago when thousands of people in this city are living in poverty, relying on food banks and don’t know how they’ll keep a roof over their heads. Courageous leadership is needed, now more than ever.”
Ciarán Beattie of Sinn Féin said he had contacted the council's chief executive to "demand answers as to how and why this was allowed to happen".
"This sends out the wrong message of the changing Belfast and city hall which is supposed to be a shared space and open to all," he said.
The Alliance Party's group leader on the council Michael Long said the videos appeared to show "completely unacceptable conduct in the shared space that is city hall".
He said: "There are pretty strict protocols about what people can or can't do within the building. I've contacted the chief executive to ask her to investigate.
"It would be pretty disturbing if this kind of behaviour is happening within the city hall.
"It seems very provocative, and I would be looking for the chief executive to look into it."
A spokesperson for Belfast City Council said they were "investigating" events at city hall on Saturday.
