Apprentice Boys banned from marching around Anglican church

The Parades Commission has been slammed for banning an Apprentice Boys parade from walking around the Church of Ireland building at the end of Lurgan's main street.

The commission ruled on Friday night that up to 61 bands and 3,600 participants taking part in today’s afternoon parade must not walk around Church Place.

However, UUP councillor Colin McCusker said that Church Place is a small circular road around the Church of Ireland building in the commercial area at the end of Lurgan’s main street.

While acknowledging that this was at the nationalist end of the town, he added that “for anyone to suggest that Church Place is an interface area is ridiculous”.

He added: “This is a retrograde step and does nothing to improve relations in the town which all the loyal orders have been working  to improve.

“What is particularly annoying is the fact that this parade is being portrayed as an attempt to annoy others.”

An Easter Monday Apprentice Boys parade takes place in Lurgan every year, albeit this year more districts have been invited, he said.