Parade violence downplayed, say loyalists

Belfast loyalists have criticised Sinn Féin and the British government, accusing them of trivialising the violence over the Twelfth…

Belfast loyalists have criticised Sinn Féin and the British government, accusing them of trivialising the violence over the Twelfth and ignoring the "restraint and tolerance" of Protestants in the face of provocation.

The North and West Belfast Parades Forum detailed what it claimed was a list of acts of violence carried out against loyalists coinciding with the height of the marching season.

Tommy Cheevers, chairman of the forum, accused republicans of attacking parades at Ardoyne, Carrick Hill, Bawnmore, York Road and Whitewell in Belfast, as well as at other venues across Northern Ireland.

Addressing reporters on the Shankill Road, he further accused republicans of targeting people and homes in the Alliance Avenue, Cluan Place, Ashmore Place and Kirk Street areas.

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"Fifteen bomb warnings threatened loyal order parades across the province on July 12th, with at least one significant device being defused," he said.

He criticised Sinn Féin and the IRA, asking: "Did dissidents do all this? If so, then we should be talking to them and not the Provos."

The forum, an umbrella group for the loyal orders, unionist politicians, clergy and others, claimed "the restraint and discipline of Protestant families at Ardoyne was beyond reasonable expectation. Community marshals that included loyalist paramilitaries were successful in managing the anger within our community under such extreme provocation."

Mr Cheevers added that rioting republicans at Ardoyne "provided cover for blast bombers" at the height of the violence on Tuesday.

He accused Northern Secretary Peter Hain of "trivialising attempts to murder members of the Protestant community and the police".

Forum member Fred Cobain, a North Belfast Ulster Unionist Assembly member, told The Irish Times that Sinn Féin was "failing to deliver" in Ardoyne.

"If we are to bring an end to these confrontations at marches, we are going to have to talk. The main problem here is sectarianism, they just don't want a Prod about the place. It's sectarianism, it goes to the core in that community. We want an end to this violence, we want to work together as neighbours."

Questioning Sinn Féin's public statements on parades, he added: "How can you have an 'Ireland of equals' when you have that level of sectarianism the other night?"

Speaking privately, forum members say they have no idea how progress can be made before next month's loyalist marches through Ardoyne.

Apprentice Boys have applied to the Parades Commission to march through the area which witnessed Tuesday's serious violence on August 13th. The Royal Black Preceptory also want to use the same route on August 27th.

Rulings by the commission are not expected until about one week before each of the controversial parades.

The SDLP accused the Orange Order and the DUP of using Tuesday's serious violence to attack the commission, which they vociferously oppose, and its role as an independent arbiter.

West Belfast Assembly member Alex Attwood claimed that "elements in the Northern Ireland Office, the Orange Order and the DUP are cock-a-hoop after July 12th. They believe all the damage has been done to the Parades Commission."

The Ardoyne riot will lead them to conclude "that with a few more shoves, the commission might topple".