NO TALKS AHEAD OF FLASHPOINT ARDOYNE PARADE ON EASTER MONDAY

Heavy police presence expected in Ardoyne for Easter Monday parade

Heavy police presence expected in Ardoyne for Easter Monday parade

LOYALIST community leaders have ruled out talks with nationalist resident groups ahead of a controversial Easter Monday parade in North Belfast.

Instead, both sides have been involved in a verbal row on a social network site ahead of the Apprentice Boys of Derry Parade through the Ardoyne area.

Around 100 Apprentice Boys and one band will march past the flashpoint Ardoyne shops amid a heavy security presence.

The Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective (GARC) had called for talks ahead of the parade.

It says it wants an end to all parades in the area.

However, Winston Irvine, a spokesman for the North and West Belfast Parades Forum, said there would be no talks with residents’ groups which he described as “xenophobic bigots”.

During a verbal row on Twitter this week with a republican, he said: “GARC are a dissident republican rump who are trying to exploit Protestant culture.

“The ‘dizzies’ aren’t interested in resolving parading issue.

Wintons Irvine say GARC are "xenophobic bigots''

Wintons Irvine say GARC are “xenophobic bigots”

“The North and West Belfast Parades Forum has been a constant stalwart in pursuing a resolution and has been in dialogue with republicans since 2002.”

GARC issued a statement on Monday regarding its position on the parade.

It called for a “no parade zone” in the area and also for talks with representatives of the loyal orders.

 

 

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