Ardoyne: Agreement over north Belfast Orange parade breaks down

An agreement which ended violence around an Orange Order parade dispute in north Belfast has collapsed.

Talks to maintain the 2016 deal broke down last week, with a march past Ardoyne shops now being sought on the evening of 12 July.

A protest by a nationalist residents’ group is planned in response.

The Parades Commission will rule on the matter in two weeks’ time, with the police monitoring developments closely.

The Order claimed the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association (Cara) had “weaponised” engagement and accused them of “bad-faith dialogue.”

Earlier, Sinn Fein north Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly said it was “deeply concerning” that a parade has been applied for.

“Sinn Féin will continue to stand with residents in their opposition to this parade which contravenes the 2016 agreement,” he added.

The 2016 deal was struck between a number of Orange lodges and Cara, and defused what had become one of Northern Ireland’s most contentious parading situations.

Cara undertook not to object to any existing morning parades, which usually take place about 08:30.

In return, the lodges agreed to a “voluntary moratorium” on applying for evening return parades.

The agreement stated: “This moratorium would allow for a process between the lodges and Cara to seek agreement on future return parades and if agreement is achieved, the moratorium would be lifted.”

The agreement almost faltered last year, when there were applications to parade past Ardoyne shops in the evening.

Now the Orange Order has said the 2016 deal has broken down.

In a statement, Spencer Beattie, Belfast County Grand Master, said: “Hundreds of hours of work and dozens of face-to-face discussions have been undermined by Cara, who have weaponised the dialogue process.

“This cynical and malicious refusal to allow the three local Orange lodges and their Protestant neighbours the right to return home is a flagrant breach of the agreement and a blatant disregard for the most fundamental of human rights.

“Regrettably, this bad faith dialogue on the part of Cara has meant a collapse of the 2016 parading agreement.”

He added the Order is “resolute” on a “right” to a return march, “no matter the opposition or threat of violence.”

The Parades Commission will now take soundings before making a decision, which is currently due on 3 July.

Last year it said applications for an evening parade showed a “wanton disregard” for the agreement which had secured years of peace.