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Thousands of Orangemen take part in Twelfth of July parades Thousands of Orangemen take part in Twelfth of July parades
(35 minutes later)
Thousands of Orangemen are taking part in the annual Twelfth of July parades across Northern Ireland.Thousands of Orangemen are taking part in the annual Twelfth of July parades across Northern Ireland.
A total of 550 parades are due to take place on Friday. Londonderry will host the flagship procession.A total of 550 parades are due to take place on Friday. Londonderry will host the flagship procession.
The outward leg of the Belfast parade passed the contentious Ardoyne shops area peacefully.The outward leg of the Belfast parade passed the contentious Ardoyne shops area peacefully.
However, there have been some angry exchanges and jostling outside the flashpoint at St Patrick's Catholic Church, also in north Belfast.However, there have been some angry exchanges and jostling outside the flashpoint at St Patrick's Catholic Church, also in north Belfast.
One band played the loyalist song 'The Sash' while it was stopped outside the church.One band played the loyalist song 'The Sash' while it was stopped outside the church.
This is in contravention of a ruling by the Parades Commission, the body set up to rule on contentious parades in Northern Ireland.This is in contravention of a ruling by the Parades Commission, the body set up to rule on contentious parades in Northern Ireland.
A backdrop of tension over the parade in north Belfast surrounds this year's Twelfth.A backdrop of tension over the parade in north Belfast surrounds this year's Twelfth.
Marchers will not be allowed to return along part of the Crumlin Road that separates nationalist and loyalist communities on Friday evening. The Parades Commission has ruled that marchers will not be allowed to return along part of the Crumlin Road that separates nationalist and loyalist communities on Friday evening, but are allowed to walk it, past the Ardoyne shops, in the morning.
Ruling The Belfast parade stopped outside the commission's office in a protest against their north Belfast decision.
The Parades Commission said Orangemen could walk on the stretch of the road that goes past Ardoyne in the morning, but not later in the day. County officers tied a banner to a tree outside their door. The county grand master for Belfast, George Chittick, spoke to denounce the commission and to declare 'No Surrender'.
'No alternative'
Orange Order Grand Master Edward Stevenson, who is at the Londonderry demonstration, said the Parades Commission had left the order "no alternative" but to protest over Ardoyne.
Mr Stevenson said that there was no coordinated plan for protests, but all must be peaceful.
He said it was up to people involved at each protest to decide for how long they would protest.
In recent years there has been serious rioting in the nationalist Ardoyne area following the return leg of the parade.In recent years there has been serious rioting in the nationalist Ardoyne area following the return leg of the parade.
The morning parade was blocked temporarily by police just before it reached the Ardoyne shops.The morning parade was blocked temporarily by police just before it reached the Ardoyne shops.
This was because there were many more supporters accompanying the bands than had been allowed by the Parades Commission ruling, that limited followers of the lodges and band to 100.This was because there were many more supporters accompanying the bands than had been allowed by the Parades Commission ruling, that limited followers of the lodges and band to 100.
After hundreds of supporters withdrew, police allowed the marchers to proceed and the parade passed the Ardoyne shops without incident, shortly after 09:00 BST.After hundreds of supporters withdrew, police allowed the marchers to proceed and the parade passed the Ardoyne shops without incident, shortly after 09:00 BST.
Nationalist residents from the Greater Ardoyne Residents' Collective (GARC) held a small protest in the area, amid a heavy police presence.Nationalist residents from the Greater Ardoyne Residents' Collective (GARC) held a small protest in the area, amid a heavy police presence.
GARC was one of two residents' groups from the Ardoyne that had planned larger protests against the parade, which is a so-called feeder march for the Ligoneil lodges taking part in the main Belfast demonstration.GARC was one of two residents' groups from the Ardoyne that had planned larger protests against the parade, which is a so-called feeder march for the Ligoneil lodges taking part in the main Belfast demonstration.
However, after the Parades Commission ruling on Wednesday evening, both GARC and Crumlin and Ardoyne Residents' Association (CARA) called off their larger demonstrations.However, after the Parades Commission ruling on Wednesday evening, both GARC and Crumlin and Ardoyne Residents' Association (CARA) called off their larger demonstrations.
The marching season is a period of events from April to August, with the highpoint on 12 July when Orangemen march to commemorate William of Orange's victory over the Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland in 1690.The marching season is a period of events from April to August, with the highpoint on 12 July when Orangemen march to commemorate William of Orange's victory over the Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland in 1690.
William III is revered by the order as a champion of his faith and the man who secured the Protestant ascendancy in Ireland. They commemorate his victory in their annual parades.William III is revered by the order as a champion of his faith and the man who secured the Protestant ascendancy in Ireland. They commemorate his victory in their annual parades.
Many Catholics see the marches as triumphalist and sectarian with some traditional Orange routes passing through or past areas occupied mainly by Catholics and nationalists.Many Catholics see the marches as triumphalist and sectarian with some traditional Orange routes passing through or past areas occupied mainly by Catholics and nationalists.
The day's biggest parade is at Newtownhamilton in County Armagh.The day's biggest parade is at Newtownhamilton in County Armagh.
The Parades Commission ruling on the north Belfast parade was welcomed by nationalist politicians but angered unionists.The Parades Commission ruling on the north Belfast parade was welcomed by nationalist politicians but angered unionists.
The Democratic Unionist Party said the Parades Commission decision was rewarding riotous behaviour by dissident republicans after shots were fired during the trouble that followed last year's march.The Democratic Unionist Party said the Parades Commission decision was rewarding riotous behaviour by dissident republicans after shots were fired during the trouble that followed last year's march.
The party requested that the Northern Ireland Assembly be recalled to debate the ruling. That debate is arranged for Tuesday 16 July.The party requested that the Northern Ireland Assembly be recalled to debate the ruling. That debate is arranged for Tuesday 16 July.
The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland called the Parades Commission's decision "ludicrous" and damaging to community relations, but Sinn Féin called it a sensible decision.The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland called the Parades Commission's decision "ludicrous" and damaging to community relations, but Sinn Féin called it a sensible decision.
On Thursday, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said she had no power to intervene over the Parades Commission's decision.On Thursday, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said she had no power to intervene over the Parades Commission's decision.
"The only power I have to intervene and override a Parades Commission determination is if I receive an application asking me to do that from the chief constable," Ms Villiers said."The only power I have to intervene and override a Parades Commission determination is if I receive an application asking me to do that from the chief constable," Ms Villiers said.
"He has not sent me such an application and so I don't in this case have any power over the decision that has been made by the Parades Commission."He has not sent me such an application and so I don't in this case have any power over the decision that has been made by the Parades Commission.
"He (the chief constable) certainly made it clear he had no intention of sending me such an application.""He (the chief constable) certainly made it clear he had no intention of sending me such an application."
PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott said 43 of the parades taking place on 12 July - the height of the marching season - were "sensitive".PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott said 43 of the parades taking place on 12 July - the height of the marching season - were "sensitive".
He has drafted in an extra 630 police officers from across Britain to support the police in Northern Ireland in the event of rioting.He has drafted in an extra 630 police officers from across Britain to support the police in Northern Ireland in the event of rioting.