THE High Court has upheld the Parades Commissions decision to allow a band to accompany a Royal Black Preceptory feeder parade in Ardoyne in north Belfast on Saturday.
Mr Justice McCloskey dismissed the application for judicial review which was submitted by a resident on Friday.
But he criticised loyal orders for not engaging in dialogue with residents associations about contentious parades.
He said it was "unfortunate" that the Crumlin and Ardoyne Residents Association CARA had been driven to court for a second time in two months and added: "Genuine engagement by those on either side might have rendered this act of last resort unnecessary and the court sincerely trusts that genuine engagement in future will render unnecessary legal challenges of this kind.
"The importance of honest, determined and unconditional engagement by all interested parties is beyond dispute."
A lawyer for the resident who took the court action said people living along the route felt it was a provocative gesture to allow the marchers to be accompanied by the Pride of Ardoyne flute band, which he claimed had controversial links with the UVF.
The lawyer referred to a case earlier this month when the parades commission refused to allow the Shankill Star band to accompany a parade along the same route because of its alleged paramilitary connections.
However, a barrister acting for the parades commission accepted that the case was about consistency, but said the situation regarding the two bands was demonstrably different. The Shankill Star band did not come from the area, whereas the Pride of Ardoyne did.
There were many distinctions between the two bands, he said. A 2009 parades commission decision affecting the Pride of Ardoyne had been complied with whereas the Shankill Star had been in flagrant abuse of a condition imposed on it.
The Parades Commission granted permission for the Pride of Ardoyne to accompany todays parade at the flashpoint before they head to the main demonstration in Newcastle, but prohibited it from playing music.
Speaking outside court yesterday, CARA spokesman, Joe Marley, said the group would be organising a "dignified and peaceful protest" ahead of todays parade.
The Royal Black Institution said it hoped the day passed off quietly.
Article taken from the News Letter
