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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Orange Order chief Nelson apologises to St Matthews | Orange Order chief Nelson apologises to St Matthews |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Grand Secretary of the Orange Order has apologised unreservedly for the behaviour of a bandsman caught urinating at a Catholic Church. | The Grand Secretary of the Orange Order has apologised unreservedly for the behaviour of a bandsman caught urinating at a Catholic Church. |
| Drew Nelson was responding to a photograph in Monday's Irish News which shows a drummer relieving himself at the gateway of St Matthew's Church on the Newtownards Road in east Belfast. | Drew Nelson was responding to a photograph in Monday's Irish News which shows a drummer relieving himself at the gateway of St Matthew's Church on the Newtownards Road in east Belfast. |
| It happened during the Ulster Covenant commemoration parade on Saturday. | It happened during the Ulster Covenant commemoration parade on Saturday. |
| Mr Nelson said the incident was "outrageous and unacceptable". | Mr Nelson said the incident was "outrageous and unacceptable". |
| He apologised unreservedly to the priest and parishioners of St Matthews and said the Orange Order would look into what happened. | He apologised unreservedly to the priest and parishioners of St Matthews and said the Orange Order would look into what happened. |
| "We are always trying to review things and we will be looking at this seriously," he told BBC NI's Good Morning Ulster programme. | "We are always trying to review things and we will be looking at this seriously," he told BBC NI's Good Morning Ulster programme. |
| At the weekend, BBC Newsline reported that bands clearly breached a Parades Commission ruling that they should only play hymns as they passed St Matthew's Church on the Newtownards Road. | At the weekend, BBC Newsline reported that bands clearly breached a Parades Commission ruling that they should only play hymns as they passed St Matthew's Church on the Newtownards Road. |
| Sinn Fein called on First Minister Peter Robinson to condemn the bands who broke the ruling. | Sinn Fein called on First Minister Peter Robinson to condemn the bands who broke the ruling. |
| Police said evidence had been gathered and any breaches of the law would be passed to the Public Prosecution Service. | Police said evidence had been gathered and any breaches of the law would be passed to the Public Prosecution Service. |
| Another flashpoint on the route, where trouble flared in the summer, was outside St Patrick's Church in Donegall Street. | Another flashpoint on the route, where trouble flared in the summer, was outside St Patrick's Church in Donegall Street. |
| BBC NI Home Affairs Correspondent Vincent Kearney said: "The Parades Commission had ruled that the 14 bands taking part in this parade could only play hymn music passing the church and they did so. | BBC NI Home Affairs Correspondent Vincent Kearney said: "The Parades Commission had ruled that the 14 bands taking part in this parade could only play hymn music passing the church and they did so. |
| "But the way in which some of the musicians played attracted criticism. | "But the way in which some of the musicians played attracted criticism. |
| "Protesters said some tunes that they found offensive were also played just a short distance past the church and that the Parades Commision's ruling had been breached." | "Protesters said some tunes that they found offensive were also played just a short distance past the church and that the Parades Commision's ruling had been breached." |
| In east Belfast, bands breached the Parade Commission's ruling that they should play only hymn music passing St Matthew's Church. The song, The Sash, was clearly heard and some onlookers joined in, singing the words. | |
| Speaking about the weekend parade, NI Parades Commission chair Peter Osborne said: "The fact that it was a large parade and that it passed off largely peacefully is positive. | |
| "We are getting news of a couple of breaches and we will look at those." | |
| He said that there had been some very good engagement and discussion between politicians, the Orange Order and church and community representatives. This signalled a situation where resolution was possible and people could move forward. | |
| He would not comment on breaches to the commission's ruling, saying that he wanted to review reports from monitors and the police. | |
| However, he added: "One of the things we need to look at are which bands breached the ruling and where those bands came from." | |
| Up to 30,000 people took part in events to mark the Ulster Covenant centenary. | Up to 30,000 people took part in events to mark the Ulster Covenant centenary. |
| The biggest policing operation in Belfast for 20 years was in place for a six-mile march from central Belfast to Stormont. | The biggest policing operation in Belfast for 20 years was in place for a six-mile march from central Belfast to Stormont. |
| It marked the anniversary of the signing of the document in 1912, which laid the foundations for the partition of Ireland and the formation of Northern Ireland a decade later. | It marked the anniversary of the signing of the document in 1912, which laid the foundations for the partition of Ireland and the formation of Northern Ireland a decade later. |
| Meanwhile, Clifton Street Orange Hall in north Belfast has been targeted in an overnight attack. | |
| Paint was thrown at the front of the building. | |
| It is the latest in a series incidents which normally follow parades. | |
| DUP MLA William Humphrey said: "This was sectarian and in response to the success of Saturday's covenant parade." | |
| He said it should be condemned just as the Orange Order had condemned what happened in east Belfast. |