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| Irish News November 26th 2013 |
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| September 21st 2013 Application |
The Parades Commission permitted the parade but stipulated that it should leave Belfast City Hall no later than 12.30 p.m. and be clear of Royal Avenue by 1.00 p.m.
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| Parades Commission determination on September 21st 2013 parade |
In the event the organisers decided to ignore the Parades Commission determination and actually left the City Hall at approx 1.30 p.m. and made it's way down North Street shortly before 2.00 p.m.
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| UTV News report on September 21st 2013 Parade |
In the lead up to the parade rumours began circulating on Facebook that a deal had been done with the PSNI to facilitate the original parade time that had been applied for.
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| September 21st 2013 PSNI Warnings |
We published a blog to this effect on September 23rd 2013.
TURNS OUT WE WERE WRONG - kind of
We contacted the PSNI regarding the allegations of 'secret deals' and received this reply:
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| PSNI reply to LAD query on late start time of September 21st 2013 parade |
So while the late start time was indeed unlawful, the PSNI had informed the organisers they would not attempt to prevent a later start time, intent on minimising the likelihood of "harm, injury and disorder."
Which is fair enough.
This weekend the same organisers have applied for another "civil rights" parade in Belfast City Centre on Saturday November 30th - one of the busiest pre-Christmas shopping days and incredibly important for local traders.
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| November 30th 2013 application |
Yet again the Parades Commission have placed certain restrictions on the parade, stating that it must leave Belfast City Hall by 12 noon and be clear of Royal Avenue by 12.30 p.m.
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| Parades Commission determination on November 30th 2013 parade |
However, once again it seems that the organisers are sticking by their original plans and encouraging people to attend as originally planned.
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| Ignoring the Parades Commission |
In addition to Facebook posts, flyers have also been distributed in parts of Belfast today - again emphasising the original start time.
All of this begs a few important questions:
- If the PSNI can overturn Parades Commission decisions for 'operational' reasons - what exactly is the function of the Parades Commission?
- Has another deal been struck to facilitate a later start time this coming Saturday November 30th?
- What the fuck is going on?
Update:
Looks like Wee Jamie is plugging the unlawful start time as well.
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| Wee Jamie Bryson plugging unlawful start time on his Facebook page |
The police do not like confrontation as you have seen since last December and so are playing the good cop to the Parade Commission's bad cop. The Parade Commission will no doubt be sacrificed to appease the Loyalists when in reality the PC are as much good as an unlawful parade sign. Why bother having the PSNI never mind the Parades Commission?
ReplyDeleteits the wind-up these so called loyalists want - hoping to start a riot if the determination times are upheld - wanting to bully the police -- tosser marchers!
ReplyDeletejust heard the protest rally is about PSNI brutality .. is this a joke?
ReplyDeleteWe have seen the maximum restraint being shown over the months last xmas to march/april , allowing loyalists to wreck the place, then giving warnings, slowly slowly -making a few arrests-- most folks we're fed up that the police weren't getting tough enough .
This victim mentality is typical and appaling, PSNI are the most accountable force in the world .. Jamie Bryson is not kidding anyone - he loves it though - " wallowing in the ecstasy of faux-oppression " it s a mockery of what is REAL Police Brutality that happens in the World just -look at youtube to see real beatings/abuse carried out by police forces ----so pampered is ulster loyalism - it has been appeased for so may years by successive Brit Gov'ts , no wonder we are in the ridiculous and farcical situation we are in now -- IT has to end .
Protestors want a war with the PSNI - the crown forces of law/order .. its all upside down isn't it !!