Following sustained and consistent dialogue with various Nationalist stakeholders, Ulster Unionist Cllr Mark Cosgrove has expressed his “hurt” and “bitter disappointment” at the Parades Commission determination to ban this Saturday’s proposed parade past 300 yards of the Ardoyne shop fronts.

Councillor Cosgrove said;

“The situation that the Ligoniel Lodges and bands have been placed in by this determination goes against all societal norms of fairness and equality as citizens of the United Kingdom.

“Over the last few months the local Lodges have had several meetings with various stakeholders from the nationalist community to ensure that their 2013 Twelfth of July return Parade passes off smoothly at 9am on a quiet Saturday morning in June and it is deeply regrettable that such overtures were not responded to in a positive manner by CARA and all Nationalist politicians.

“Notwithstanding that, it is then for the Parades Commission, based on the unequivocal evidence presented to them to make a determination taking full account of the massive efforts the Ligoniel Lodges have made with regards to a wide range of people in the local community.

“The fact that sustained dialogue was requested and took place and the Lodges and bands are still not allowed to return home from last year’s Twelfth will create the clear impression that despite the fact that the Crumlin Road is a main arterial route and a clearly shared space at all other times, despite the fact that the Parade would literally take a few minutes, despite all the dialogue and movement on the part of the local Lodges, the threat of extreme dissident Republican violence has a higher weighting than the need to show tolerance and mutual respect to the parading tradition.

“How sad. As a progressive, centre ground Unionist, I simply cannot and will not accept the current status quo as the basis for a solution to this issue”