Republican News · Thursday 4 April 2002

Provocative Apprentice Boys march

Sinn Féin councillor Eoin Ó Broin has accused the loyalist Apprentice Boys organisation of provocation after a march by the Ligoniel Walkers Club paraded past Ardoyne on Monday morning 1 April.

Tension in the Ardoyne area was tense as hundreds of Crown forces personnel moved into Ardoyne and threw up a cordon in front of the shops to allow the loyalist parade to pass. A crowd of loyalists from the Twaddell Avenue area came out onto the Crumlin Road, adding to the tension.

Prior to the march, the Crown forces threw up a security cordon at the junction of the Woodvale Road and the Crumlin Road, claiming they had uncovered a bomb.

After a security operation lasting an hour, the device turned out to be a hoax.

As the loyalist parade approached the Ardoyne shops, nationalists residents voiced their protedst.

A UVF band from East Belfast, formed in 1969, accompanied the Ligoniel Walkers club. "Residents are angry that the modern day UVF, which this band supports, has been responsible for death and injury of many nationalists from this area over the last 30 years of conflict. For anyone to suggest that this parade is not insulting is to ignore reality," said Ó Broin.