Residents in the Lower Ormeau Road in south Belfast are preparing to protest against a loyalist march on Easter Monday after losing a court battle to prevent it going ahead.
They failed to convince three Appeal Court judges in Belfast to overturn a ruling by the North's Parades Commission to allow the Apprentice Boys to march through their neighbourhood.
As the residents planned a rally for tomorrow night to protest against the decision, they were urged by the RUC and religious and political leaders to ensure their protest remained peaceful. It is understood that they plan to block the road, and this could lead to confrontation with the RUC.
In the Appeal Court judgment, Lord Justice Nicholson sympathised with the commission which, he said, had a "thankless task" in determining whether marches could go ahead. This inevitably led to one section of the community or the other being offended. The verdict was welcomed by the commission's chairman, Mr Tony Holland. "The interests and the rights of all those involved - the Apprentice Boys and the Lower Ormeau residents - will now be best served by ensuring that the parade and any protest or response are conducted with dignity and within the law."
Mr Holland said any protest against Monday's march should be dignified and peaceful and he called for the policing of the contentious parade to be restrained. Residents described the verdict as "disappointing but not surprising".
Mr John Gormley of the Lower Ormeau Concerned Community group said the verdict raised the question of whether the courts could really overrule commission decisions. "One of the judges recognised there had not been genuine dialogue on behalf of the Apprentice Boys with ourselves and this ruling raises the question of the kind of latitude being given to the Parades Commission.
"It raises the question does the commission have too much power and the courts little control over it?"
Mr Gormley said there was a "strong mood" in the community for showing opposition to Monday's parade. The RUC south Belfast commander, Chief Supt Stephen Grange, urged residents to show "calm and restraint" by protesting in a lawful and dignified manner.
In an open letter confirming there would be a strong police presence in the area, he said: "The police in south Belfast are responsible for ensuring that Monday morning's parade on the Ormeau Road passes off without disturbance and with the minimum disruption to residents.
"To that end the police are appealing for calm and restraint. In the absence of a local accommodation between the residents and the Apprentice Boys of Derry it is the duty of the RUC to see that the determination of the Parades Commission is upheld.
"Inevitably that means a large police presence and some disruption to normal life in the area." Mr Grange said his officers acknowledged the right of residents to mount a peaceful and legal protest. The RUC was willing to meet residents to discuss how such a protest could be conducted, he said.
