Groundbreaking deal between Orange Order and Ardoyne Republican group may signal end of years of conflict One of Northern Ireland’s most controversial loyalist parades has passed off peacefully in Belfast, effectively ending 21 years of often violent disputes connected to Northern Ireland’s marching season.
Three Orange lodges and two bands playing religious hymns passed by the republican Ardoyne district on their way back to their home territory at about 8.30am yesterday, three years and two months after they had been banned from returning northwards up Belfast’s Crumlin Road.
The resolution of the final, main marching dispute came about after a groundbreaking deal between the Orange Order and loyalist groups on one side and a nationalist resident group in Ardoyne on the other.
The cost of policing the three-year dispute in north Belfast — the area with the highest casualties of Northern Ireland’s Troubles — has been more than £22m.
But not everyone in Ardoyne was happy with the agreement.
At one stage following the Orange Order march, police officers in riot gear had to protect the former IRA Old Bailey bomber turned Sinn Féin politician Gerry Kelly from about several dozen hardline Republicans opposed to the deal.
In scenes that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago, the dissident Republicans tore after Kelly from Ardoyne, shouting: “Shame, shame,” at the former minister, accusing him of selling out their community.
As the Police Service of Northern Ireland held back the crowd from getting near Kelly, there were minor scuffles on the road and a cup of hot liquid was thrown in a policeman’s face.
The crowd of Republicans hardliners also rounded on local parish priest Father Gary Donegan, whom they accused of taking part in the deal that allowed the Orangemen to complete their return march.
Gathering around Donegan outside Ardoyne’s shops they also chanted: “Shame, shame,” into his face.
In heated exchanges with the cleric, who was on his last day as parish priest at the Holy Cross monastery, one of the republicans shouted: “Gangster priest.”
Those angry with the agreement belonged to the Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective (Garc), which is aligned to dissident republican groups in the north Belfast district.
It was the rival Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association (Cara), backed by Sinn Féin among others, that secured the deal with the local Orange Order.
Dee Fennell, a Garc spokesman who was extremely critical of the Ardoyne agreement, described it as a “Sinn Féin/UVF [Ulster Volunteer Force]– imposed deal.”
Speaking before being confronted by Garc supporters, Donegan said:
“You can look back and say, ‘Let’s take the positive out of this’ and say that particular chapter is over. Now hopefully we can build on what has happened and make a better future for the people around here.”
Donegan said the apparent resolution of the marching dispute at the north Belfast sectarian interface had wider significance for the whole of Northern Ireland.
“This could be the catalyst for others because if you can solve Ardoyne you can solve lots of other places.”
Consider the fact that in the history of the Troubles the parish of Ardoyne lost the per capita equivalent of 50,000 people in LA.
“On the very route of this parade people were killed and that makes this deal unique and a precedent.
I can understand some people feel aggrieved and annoyed about the deal, but do we allow ourselves to be imprisoned by our past or do we hope for a new future?” he asked.
The Orange Order paid tribute to its members in north Belfast for maintaining a daily protest at a camp in Twaddle Avenue facing Ardoyne for the duration of the 38-month-long ban on their parade.
Spencer Beattie, the deputy county grand master of the grand Orange lodge of Belfast, said: “I commend the membership of the three lodges and the bands, who despite being demonised for their principled stand,have maintained — along with many here — a peaceful protest.
The lodges and bands played a pivotal role in creating the conditions for today’s return parade.
That decision was taken solely by the lodges themselves and we as a county are fully supportive of the actions they have taken.
“The agreement reached did not come easy, but it is founded on mutual tolerance and respect.
Going forward, we trust this positive atmosphere will prevail regarding future parades in north Belfast, including future return parades along the Crumlin Road.”
The PSNI deployed massive resources to prevent any major clashes, as the parade took just four minutes to pass by the Ardoyne shops.
Approximately 600 PSNI in riot gear were deployed at entry points in the nationalist area alongside armoured land rovers and crush barriers while a police helicopter hovered overhead.
PSNI assistant chief constable Stephen Martin praised all those involved in reaching the agreement at Ardoyne.”This weekend has seen a number of notified parades and protests take place in north Belfast,” he said.
“Thankfully, all of these passed off peacefully due to the concerted effort of a wide number of individuals. The impact that positive dialogue and discussion has played in this process cannot be underestimated and I congratulate all those who helped today happen.”
People clash with police in Ardoyne.
