Statement by TUV Court councillor Jolene Bunting:
“On Friday night I attended the Annual Tour of the North parade in North Belfast. I watched as the bands stopped to finish the tune they were playing at the junction of the Westlink before proceeding along Donegal Street to the sound of a single drum beat, as dictated by the unelected quango the Parades Commission.
“Tensions had been high in the area before the parade started due to Republicans erecting Irish tricolours in the Carrickhill area and a billboard advertisement for the Orange Orders new museum being removed following calls from republicans. This, added to the Parades Commission placing draconian restrictions on the parade, increased tension and provoked Loyalists taking part in the parade. However, in spite of this those on parade behaved implacably.
“By way of contrast, Orangemen and bandsmen were attacked with stones and bottles by violent republicans.
“The Parades Commission need to sit up and take note of this. It is not the Orange Institution and its supporters who cause parading disputes. Republican resident groups – aided by Sinn Fein/IRA – do. They simply do not want a Protestant about the place. “It is a shame that the Parades Commission sees fit to assist them in their policy of cultural apartheid.”