Commission restricts Stoneyford Parade
THE Parades Commission has restricted the route of a controversial loyalist parade through Stoneyford village on St Patrick's Day.
The Pride of the Village Flute Band had asked the commission for permission to march through three mixed housing estates in the Co Antrim village at 7pm on March 17.
But the commission ruled the march should only proceed down Main Street.
The commission said the march should proceed, without stop, from its assembly point at Stoneyford Orange Hall and down Main Street as far as its junction with Ashvale Heights.
Marchers must then turn around and march back the way they came to the Orange hall.
The commission also said the parade must be finished in 15 minutes.
It also banned paramilitary clothing, banners and other paraphernalia.
In its ruling, the commission said that the parade could only give rise to increased sectarian tensions in the area.
"The commission understands that Stoneyford has seen sectarian tension," it said.
"As it has done previously in considering parades notified by this band, the commission suggests to the organiser that he reflect carefully on whether his actions are in the best interests of community relations in Stoneyford; and if they are helping to further the interests of parading as a peaceful, cultural tradition."
In its ruling the commission added it had a number of concerns in relation to this notification. "Firstly, the notification was not left with an officer of the PSNI of the rank of sergeant or above, as required by the legislation.
"The person leaving it at the police station did so without providing a name, an address or any contact details.
"Moreover, the notification does not name an organiser while the signature purporting to be that of the organiser is illegible."
The Pride of the Village Flute Band is led by 42-year-old loyalist Mark Harbinson, who in November 2009 was remanded in custody charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.
He was arrested in October when police allegedly found indecent images of the 13-year-old girl on his mobile phone.
He denies the charges.
The 42-year-old from Sheepwalk Road in Stoneyford was a prominent Orangeman during the Drumcree standoff in Portadown.
TUV councillor for the area Cecil Calvert last night slammed the decision as "wrong" not allowing the band to march through the two mixed housing estates.
He said: "This is the first time there has been a Saint Patrick's Day parade and now there might as well be no parade at all. Where is the equality in this?
"There is no equality here for the residents of Stoneyford and in particular the Stoneyford village band."
SDLP councillor Brian Heading said while there have been "problems" in the past in the village, "there are good people on the ground who have started to build good relations and yes they don't need this parade in order to set that good work back".
"But the Parades Commission have made their decision and restricted it and that means good work can go on."
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