Band stages parade protest
POLICE last night said the controversial loyalist Pride of the Village flute band parade in Stoneyford passed off without incident.
Less than 100 people attended the Saint Patrick's Day event, which saw only a colour party walk the route determined by the Parades Commission.
Band chairman, Paul Smith, said they decided to only send the colour party along the route to show they "do not agree with the Parades Commission determination to only walk around 60 yards up the street".
"We were very pleased with how it went tonight," he said. "An awful lot of police turned out and an awful lot of money was wasted, the same as it was last year. The amount of police around the village was a disgrace."
Mr Smith insisted the Pride of the Village was "not a sectarian band and have no paramilitary connections".
According to onlookers the colour party had walked up the street and back within five minutes.
SDLP councillor for the area, Brian Heading, said: "Policing was very firm in relation to the parade tonight.
"Those working in the best interests of the families in Stoneyford will be encouraged by this."
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Weather for Belfast
Monday 13 February 2012
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Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 9 C
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