SF says parade move is 'incomprensible'

Sinn Féin chairman Mr Mitchel McLaughlin has described the decision of the Parades Commission to allow an Apprentice Boys parade…

Sinn Féin chairman Mr Mitchel McLaughlin has described the decision of the Parades Commission to allow an Apprentice Boys parade down the Lower Ormeau Road in Belfast on Easter Monday as "incomprensible".

Mr McLaughlin was speaking at the Sinn Fein Ard Comhairle in Dublin today.

He said: "We have always encouraged a process of dialogue and we find the decision of the Parades Commission on the basis of there having been 'sustained and meaningful dialogue' is incomprehensible because there has been no dialogue between the residents and the Apprentice Boys since February of last year.

"The residents do not want this march to go down their road and it should not be forced down their road against their wishes," he added.

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Mr McLaughlin also said that the Irish and British governments cannot adopt a "blind eye policy" to those who are "trying to destroy" the Belfast Agreement.

Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams briefed party members on last week's meeting with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Dr John Reid, ahead of next week's meeting with the Taoiseach.

Mr McLaughlin said the party had told Dr Reid that the British government had allowed Mr David Trimble to collapse the North-South dimension of the Belfast Agreement by refusing to nominate Sinn Fein minister onto North-South ministerial bodies.

He called for a convening of a North-South Ministerial meeting involving all ministers in the Northern Executive and the Government.

"This is one way of drawing a line under that process and ensuring that David Trimble's dismantling of the Good Friday Agreement discontinues immediately," he said.