Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“The decision of the Parades Commission to once again ban the return parade of the Ligoniel Lodges is clearly a reward for Republican violence. The Commission itself notes that there was no public disorder related to the July 2014 parade which was conducted “peacefully and lawfully and was well marshalled”. It also notes that the nightly and weekly parades have been well marshalled and have not resulted in public disorder or violence.
“Yet they say they reached their decision because of a high possibility of public disorder.
“Such a perverse decision sends out a clear message that violence pays.”
TUV Court Councillor Jolene Bunting added:
“I am disgusted by this decision. The nearest the parade would come to nationalist homes is when it passes the Ardoyne shop fronts. Those who object to the parade quite literally have to go out of their way to be offended by it.
“It is obvious that the issue is not finding some compromise between the competing demands of the Orange Order and protesters who live near to (but not on) the parade route.
“The issue is that republicans will simply not tolerate an Orange parade of any kind or at any time. The heart of the matter is that while some republicans have laid aside their guns they continue to be engaged in cultural warfare. That’s why there is an attack upon the right to parade and why the Union Flag had to go from City Hall.
“In the new peace process Northern Ireland there is much glib talk about shared space but all too often there seems to be no thought given to those to whom no space is given and who see their cultural being relentlessly suppressed.”