A second attempt to hold a Love Ulster parade in Dublin looked like moving a step closer today after organisers said the Garda Síochána indicated they had no objection in principle to the proposal.
Willie Frazer
An attempt to hold the parade last year failed after around 1,000 Northern unionists went home without marching after some of the worst rioting Dublin has seen broke out.
However, the organisers, Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (Fair) said they hope bring 3,000 people to Dublin this time. Twenty-five bands, some of which take part in Orange Order marches, are being lined up for a date sometime in August.
Representatives of Fair met Assistant Garda Commissioner Alan McHugh, head of the Dublin Metropolitan Region, at his offices today.
They emerged saying they had been had given commitments to provide the necessary security and protection.
But the Garda were more cautious describing today's meeting as "was cordial and productive".
A spokesman told ireland.com: "Obviously we would be willing to police any peaceful and lawful parade but we would emphasise that no decisions were made". A decision could only be made when Fair provide firm proposals, he added.
Parade organiser Willie Frazer, said: "As far as the parade goes, the guards are prepared to police it. Obviously there's a few concerns, they feel it's a bit raw in the minds of the people," he said.
Mr Frazer insisted gardaí had not put any restrictions on the planned parade.
Around 15 people, including gardaí, were hospitalised last year as republican opponents of the paraded - abetted by others - went on the rampage through Dublin city centre. Over 40 people were arrested.
Mr Frazer accepted there was danger of a repeat of last year's violence but insisted that the safety of the public and businesses was of paramount concern.
He also hinted that supporters may not want to hold the rally if it meant being flanked by riot police as they walked across the city. He said a parade flanked by riot police would not be "the image that we want to show."
Speaking on RTÉ radio today Mr Frazer said he believed the political climate had changed in the Republic.
"Now the time is right for it given the election result down south. People have indicated they don't support the republican movement, they don't support violence Dublin is a multicultural society, and everybody's supposed to be welcome and it's time to prove it," Mr Frazer said.
However, Republican Sinn Féin said it will protest at any unionist-led rally, and Dublin Chamber of Commerce said it does not want the parade allowed without guarantees.
The development comes as politicians in the North welcomed the thawing of relations between the Orange Order and nationalist objectors.
The Orange Order disclosed yesterday it was dropping its ban on direct talks with the Garvaghy Roads Residents' Coalition, which has consistently objected to the Drumcree parade going through the predominantly nationalist area of Portadown.
But Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said residents needed an assurance that dialogue would be unconditional. Mr McGuinness also stressed the need for another peaceful summer marching season.
He and First Minister Ian Paisley will tonight pay tribute tonight to community workers who delivered peace on the streets at last year's contentious marches at a reception in Stormont.
Additional reporting PA