VILLIERS SHOULD ASK PARADES COMMISSION TO RESIGN, SAYS MP DODDS

North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds furious over Parades Commission

North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds furious over Parades Commission

DUP North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds has urged Secretary of State Theresa Villiers to call for the resignation of the entire Parades Commission.

It follows by a decision by the Parades Commission to impose restrictions on the ‘Tour of the North’ parade.

Mr Dodds said: “The latest determination by the Parades Commission on Donegall Street demonstrates that this is a bureaucratic monstrosity that has lost the run of itself, simply dances to the tune of republican residents, or a dangerous combination of both.

“It is clear from the document that the Parades Commission gave serious consideration to banning music being played outside Clifton Street Orange Hall.

“I wish that statement was a joke but it is not.

“The Commission’s recently invented test of “earshot”, and the vagueness of where these new conditions apply from, makes many suspect they are deliberately setting the Loyal Orders and Bands up for fall.

“No doubt in order to justify ever more restrictions.

“The implicit reference by the Parades Commission to the recent visit of Prince Charles is an utter disgrace.

“The Royal Family should not have been brought into this issue at all.

“In every difficult situation there is in North Belfast, this Parades Commission has adopted the consistent position of how can they make that situation worse in Unionist communities.

“Then expect Unionist political and community representatives to manage ever more difficult situations.

“This pattern of behaviour means they should be gone.

“They do not have the honour to do the decent thing themselves so the Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers, should ask them all for their resignations.”

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