Representatives of Nationalist residents have urged the Apprentice Boys to call off a planned parade through the Lower Ormeau area of Belfast next weekend. They say that 90 per cent of people who took part in a local ballot have voted against Loyal Order parades going through the district. A similar percentage said that Loyal Order bands, music, flags and banners were offensive and sectarian.
Over 600 residents from the Lower Ormeau Road took part in the poll, held in a local leisure centre. The Catholic residents' group claimed afterwards that 90 per cent of voters wanted all loyalist order parades banned from the area.
The Orange Order in Belfast rejected the poll results as a publicity stunt. The local Ulster Unionist MP, the Reverend Martin Smyth, that the poll was one-sided. However, the local parish priest, Fr Anthony Curran, said that he was satisfied with the conduct of the ballot.
