THE BRITISH army has dramatically altered its plans for a “homecoming” parade in Belfast of Royal Irish Regiment soldiers returning from Afghanistan.
Sinn Féin has also recast its plans for a counter-demonstration, altering its march route entirely and removing the possibility of a confrontation with army supporters from the Shankill area who will be in the city centre to greet the troops.
Maj Gen Chris Brown, the general officer commanding in Northern Ireland, issued a press statement early yesterday announcing the cancellation of a planned RAF fly-past and other measures designed to quell rising tension over the parade.
Thousands of parade supporters and protesters are expected to gather in the city centre, prompting fears of serious street trouble.
Sinn Féin announced it was changing its plans for a protest at the parade, moving it from a route close to one to be used by unionists from north and west Belfast gathering in the city centre.
Junior Minister Gerry Kelly denied a deal had been struck and said the new plans still allowed republican protesters to make clear their opposition to what they see as a provocative parade by the army.
“All those taking part in our protest must be able to do so safely and return home safely,” he said.
The voluntary rerouting “would facilitate republicans and unionists being on the streets of Belfast in a peaceful way and at the same time, while respecting each other’s differences”.
Maj Gen Brown said the soldiers would not carry weapons. “We have taken a number of measures to ensure that our Thanksgiving parade does not increase the potential for friction.”
The move has been criticised by unionists who fear the Ministry of Defence altered plans under republican pressure.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is planning one of its largest operations in the city in many years amid plans for unofficial protests by other republican groups, socialist groups and far-right activists, including some suspected of travelling from Britain.
Policing Board chairman Prof Sir Desmond Rea called for calm. “The PSNI has had to put in place a significant policing operation with a large amount of resources to police this event,” he said.
PSNI assistant chief constable Alistair Finlay said the police operation would be “proportionate and appropriate. However, we will not tolerate the activities of the very small number of people in society determined to cause trouble.”
Last night 200 soldiers from the 1st and 2nd battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment paraded through Ballymena last night in the first of a series of homecoming events in the North for British army soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq.
Around 3,500 onlookers lined the streets as the soldiers completed a two-mile tour of the town centre. No official protest had been organised by republicans prior to the event and there was no visible opposition to the parade as it passed through the town.
Ballymena Borough Council hosted a civic reception for the two battalions following the parade. Ballymena has a long association with the regiment, which was formerly based in the town’s St Patrick’s Barracks.
“We bid you a warm welcome home and we are proud of you,” said Ballymena mayor Maurice Mills before the parade got under way.
The two battalions have returned from a tour of Helmand province in Afghanistan, where they helped train the Afghan national army. One soldier was killed and several others were seriously injured during the tour. A senior member of the 1st battalion RIR said the average age of his soldiers was 22.