Orange Order lodge fresh Ardoyne route application

The County Grand Lodge of Belfast says it is “a genuine and serious attempt” to settle things

Orange lodges have made a new application for a march past Ardoyne shops in north Belfast, describing it as “an initiative” aimed at resolving a parades row.

They are seeking Parades Commission approval for a march on the morning of 13 July.

They said this would be a “replacement” for a parade requested the night before.

In a statement, the County Grand Lodge of Belfast said it was “a genuine and serious attempt” to settle things.

An eight-year-old agreement on Ardoyne parades broke down last week.

Currently, there have been five agreed parades per year, all in the morning.

But a deal on a sixth, an evening ‘return’ parade on 12 July, was never achieved and talks with the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association (Cara) broke down.

There had been violent scenes along the route in previous years

This led to the lodges making an application for a parade on the night of 12 July, involving about 100 people and one band.

Cara has applied to hold a protest.

The Parades Commission is due to issue rulings next week.

In a new development, the County Grand Lodge of Belfast said another application has been sent to the commission.

“As a solution to address the contention surrounding the evening return parade, we propose its replacement with a morning homeward return parade on July 13,” a statement read.

“To this end, a new application has been submitted.

“This magnanimous and serious effort underscores our commitment to finding a far, peaceful and lasting solution.”

The police have previously said they are monitoring the situation.

They said while tensions had increased with the unravelling of the 2016 agreement, they do not detect “an appetite for disorder”.

Cara has been approached for comment.

It is understood it was not aware of the new parade application and will be meeting to discuss it.

'Act of good faith'

The Orange Order’s Belfast County Grand Master, Spencer Beattie, told BBC News NI the Order “would maintain we have a right to return home on the twelfth evening”.

He said the application for a parade on the morning of 13 July is best described as “a replacement to allow a parade to return home”.

The application, he added, should be taken as “an act of good faith” that “allows us to re-engage with Cara if they are up to that re-engagement”.