Still time to resolve ‘difficult’ situation around Crumlin 12th says Lisburn Mayor

James Tinsley said they believed it was the first time a main demonstration would not be allowed to return to their original assembly point.

Around 400 protestors went to Hillsborough on Monday night to hand in a letter to a representative of the Secretary of State urging him to intervene with the Parades Commission.

The South Antrim Combine parade involves 50 bands and the seven districts of Lisburn, Hillsborough, Aghalee, Magheragall, Ballinderry, Derriaghy and Glenavy.

It will be allowed to go ahead in the morning without any restrictions. However when the parade leaves the field at 4pm part of the route will be restricted to just the Lodges and notified accompanying bands making up the host Glenavy District.

Mr Tinsley said they felt aggrieved because they had already made changes to accommodate local sensitivities. He said they had changed the original parade from Lurgan Road close to a Catholic Chapel and school.

“We felt we did everything that we possibly could,” said Mr Tinsley. “We were very disappointed with the decision.

“We changed the route as a compromise to make the route as short as possible. It would have gone past five Protestant churches and one Orange Hall and we would not be passing through any Nationalist areas.

“We felt that we had done more than enough. We thought that there may have been an issue with flags but we did not expect such an extreme decision. This came as a shock a total bolt out of the blue.

“It is the first time in Northern Ireland a decision like this has been made that I am aware of that where only the local lodges have been allowed to return.”

Lisburn Mayor William Leathem said it was ‘totally unacceptable that the Parades Commission has chosen to separate Orange Brethren during this parade’.

“The Mayor of Antrim and myself condemned the decision of the Parades Commission not to meet with civic leaders from both our councils to discuss its determination; and identify a way forward to minimise potential disruptions within our council areas.”

Mr Leathem had asked for a meeting with the Parades Commission and was at first refused.

“As a result of the refusal by the Parades Commission not to meet us, elected members across the South Antrim and Lagan Valley electoral areas signed a letter of objection to the current determination and lodged it with the Parades Commission,” he said.

“The elected members are very pleased that when they attended the Parades Commission offices on the morning of 10th July to submit their letter of objection that the Commissioners agreed to meet a delegation in the afternoon at the eleventh hour of this parade determination.”

Mr Leathem said he hoped that even at a late stage it would be possible to resolve what ‘clearly could be a very difficult and sensitive situation’.

A spokesperson for the Crumlin Residents’ Association appealed for calm ahead of the parade.

“Residents within the town are quite rightly anxious at the vast numbers of participants, bands and supporters coming to Crumlin,” the spokesperson said.

“Despite the Residents’ Association seeking to meet with the Orange Order to put across our concerns to date the Orange Order have still refused to engage in dialogue with this community.

“Dialogue does not hurt anyone, it can alleviate fears and help reach accommodation and mutual respect. The Orange Order have ignored this opportunity.

“We will continue to meet with the PSNI and other groups ahead of this parade to ensure that the rights and the safety of those who live in Crumlin are paramount.”

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