Churches working to avoid marching season violence

Representatives ‘open to every channel’

Representatives of the two main faith traditions in Northern Ireland are “working hard” to prevent violence during this year’s marching season, a priest has revealed.

Fr Gary Donegan of Holy Cross church in Ardoyne, Belfast, told The Irish Catholic this week that, with traditional loyalist marches imminent, “there has been a sustained level of conversation towards gaining a resolution, and we’re still open to every channel to gain that”.

“There has been direct contact between the Orange Order, the Church of Ireland and the Catholic Church,” he explained, acknowledging that agreement on concerns had yet to be fully reached.

Ardoyne is the site of the unionist Twaddell Avenue protest encampment, which has, since July 12 last year, maintained its presence in demanding that marching bands be allowed to travel a stretch of the Crumlin Road separating unionist and nationalist areas. When, in 2013, the Orange Order was refused permission to access the route, there was serious rioting in the area after which the Twaddell Avenue camp was established.

Despite that presence for the past 11 months, the Parades Commission has once again refused permission for the Orange Order to march the route, provoking unionist anger and with it a threat of fresh violence as the Twelfth draws near.

Difficult time

“Policing has worked very well so far, though we are now edging towards the most difficult time,” Fr Donegan said of the PSNI response to Tawddell Avenue, which has cost in excess of £9 million in policing to date. “We’re watching and waiting,” Fr Donegan said.

Meanwhile, in another flashpoint area, at St Patrick’s church on Belfast’s Donegall Street, administrator Fr Michael Sheehan welcomed positive overtures from the Orange Order on avoiding the contentious displays of last year by marchers at the church.

“I welcome the statement from the Orange Order and the opportunities offered for on-going conversations,” Fr Sheehan said in a statement.

The Parades Commission has since ruled that marching bands may only sound a drum beat in passing St Patrick’s.