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| Unionist residents: 'Orange Order should talk to Belfast nationalists' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Orange Order has been asked by some supporters to speak to a nationalist residents' group at a north Belfast flashpoint that has seen serious rioting linked to the parading issue. | |
| Unionists living close to Ardoyne made the call ahead of a 12 July parade. | Unionists living close to Ardoyne made the call ahead of a 12 July parade. |
| They said it followed recent peaceful parades in north Belfast. | |
| The Twaddell & Woodvale Residents Association said they were calling for three local lodges to engage directly with a nationalist residents' group. | The Twaddell & Woodvale Residents Association said they were calling for three local lodges to engage directly with a nationalist residents' group. |
| The group said they hoped to build on the "positive environment". | The group said they hoped to build on the "positive environment". |
| Alfie McCrory, chairman of the Twaddell and Woodvale Residents Association, said they were awaiting a response from the Orange Order on the call for dialogue. | |
| "In the last couple of weeks, we have seen three parades deemed to be contentious all pass off peacefully, we are trying to build on the environment created over the last number of weeks, to encourage respect in this part of north Belfast," he said. | |
| "We are trying to be pro-active rather than reactive. | |
| "Every other year we wait until there is trouble and violence and we suffer for two days and then we try to get it fixed up, so we are trying to be pro-active this year." | |
| The statement released by the Twaddell and Woodvale residents only made reference to discussions with the Crumlin and Ardoyne Residents' Association (CARA). | |
| Orange response | Orange response |
| It is one of two residents' groups that opposed parades at Ardoyne in the past. There was no mention of the second group, the Greater Ardoyne Residents' Collective (GARC). | |
| There was no immediate response from the Orange Order, although it is thought the organisation may respond on Friday. | There was no immediate response from the Orange Order, although it is thought the organisation may respond on Friday. |
| Father Gary Donegan, from Holy Cross Church in Ardoyne said the residents' move was to be welcomed. | |
| "Face-to-face talks have to be welcomed," he said. | |
| "There is a slight sense that it is late for the Twelfth, but the most positive thing is that people are calling for this and it is something we have wanted for a long time. The whole community will welcome the fact that progress has been made and we are waiting to see how it will develop." | |
| There has been serious violence at Ardoyne in previous years after opposition to the Twelfth feeder parade in the area. | There has been serious violence at Ardoyne in previous years after opposition to the Twelfth feeder parade in the area. |
| Nationalists have always called for face-to-face talks in an attempt to come to a local agreement. | Nationalists have always called for face-to-face talks in an attempt to come to a local agreement. |
| CARA has welcomed the initiative. The group is meeting later and is expected to issue a further statement then. GARC residents' group could not be contacted for comment on Thursday evening. | CARA has welcomed the initiative. The group is meeting later and is expected to issue a further statement then. GARC residents' group could not be contacted for comment on Thursday evening. |
| The Unionist residents' initiative was welcomed by Rev Heather Morris, president of the Methodist Church in Ireland. | The Unionist residents' initiative was welcomed by Rev Heather Morris, president of the Methodist Church in Ireland. |
| "I would, with the residents' association, encourage the three local Orange lodges to engage directly with the Crumlin and Ardoyne Residents' Association ahead of the Twelfth of July parades," she said. | "I would, with the residents' association, encourage the three local Orange lodges to engage directly with the Crumlin and Ardoyne Residents' Association ahead of the Twelfth of July parades," she said. |
| "Such dialogue, if entered into mutually, may indeed prevent a repetition of the yearly riotous situation which surrounds this area of north Belfast. | "Such dialogue, if entered into mutually, may indeed prevent a repetition of the yearly riotous situation which surrounds this area of north Belfast. |
| "Such dialogue could pave the way for a trouble-free day." | "Such dialogue could pave the way for a trouble-free day." |