Loyalists 'will meet' Adams over Ardoyne
A LOYALIST parades group, including members of the Loyal Orders, has agreed to hold talks with Gerry Adams.
The North and West Parades and Cultural Forum has signalled that they would be prepared to sit down with the Sinn Fein President ahead of a planned Apprentice Boys parade past Ardoyne in a fortnight.
The group said it was to make the move "to remove all doubt around the commitment and resolve of the parade organisers in reaching a compromise solution that is acceptable to everyone".
The announcement comes in the wake of three nights of intense rioting over the Twelfth in Ardoyne, when dissident republicans attacked police following the passing of an Orange parade.
Trouble flared after residents' group the Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective (GARC) staged a sit-down protest on the Crumlin Road near the Ardoyne shop fronts.
The same group threatened to repeat the protest before the Apprentice Boys feeder parade in two weeks time on August 14.
On Friday, Gerry Adams had challenged leaders of the Loyal Orders to hold talks on contentious parades.
A spokesman for the Grand Orange lodge said they "had absolutely no plans" to meet him.
However, in a surprise move last night, Winston Irvine of the North and West Belfast Parades Forum told the News Letter: "The forum has declared that they, along with parade organisers of the Apprentice Boys Of Derry (ABOD) parade due to come down the Crumlin Road on August 14 would be prepared to meet with Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams ahead of the parade".
Mr Irvine added: "I would like to gently admonish Gerry Adams on his request to meet the leaders of the Loyal Orders.
"If Gerry Adams is genuine and serious about discussing in a meaningful way any concerns around the upcoming parade, then it is the organisers of the parade that he needs to engage with.
"The autonomy lies with the local leaders in relation to local parades".
He continued: "The discussions need to take place in the spirit of generosity, tolerance and compromise.
"The North and West Belfast Parades Forum, including the parade organisers, would be prepared to enter into discussions in order to remove all doubt around the commitment and resolve of the parade organisers in reaching a compromise solution that is acceptable to everyone".
Mr Irvine said: "The determination and leadership shown by the ABOD should be commended and I would hope that others in leadership positions would step up to the plate."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Belfast
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
