A DUP councillor has suggested “minority rights” should be extended to all after claims that a mixed street at the centre of an Irish language row was included in a loyalist parade route in a bid to intimidate local people.
Oldpark councillor Jordan Doran confirmed he followed the controversial parade through the mixed Sunningdale Park North of north Belfast area on July 11.
The event, branded ‘Ballysillan Community Parade’, included one band and up to 100 participants.
While details were notified to the Parades Commission, it was not marked as sensitive, and no determination was issued.
North Belfast SDLP councillor Carl Whyte has written to the PSNI and Parades Commission and believes both should have considered the parade “contentious”.
In correspondence to police, Mr Whyte said that while similar parades have previously taken place in the wider area, Sunningdale Park North was added to the route this year.
Mr Whyte said he has been contacted by a number of local residents “who feel this parade was an attempt to intimidate because of the erection of a dual-language street sign earlier this year”.
Mr Doran said he is “completely perplexed” over why the SDLP politician wrote to the PSNI and Parades Commission about the event, which he suggested was “for kids”.
“I walked behind the parade, through its agreed route and would refute any claims of ‘intimidation’,” he said.
“Given the fantastic turn out of residents throughout the route who were at their doors waving at the kids and band as they passed by peacefully, anyone who believed this was an act of intimidation is culturally ignorant.”
And Mr Doran added: “this is a clear example of a rule for one and a different rule for another”.
There was controversy earlier this year after unionists failed in a bid to block the erection of dual Irish/English signage in the area.
Applications linked to four streets, including Sunningdale Park North, were deferred after they met the threshold for dual signage but had a greater number opposing the move.
Mr Doran suggested minority rights should now be extended to all.
“The argument used by nationalist councillors of minority rights was good enough to erect a dual language sign, but those rights are not extended to those that might wish to learn the flute or celebrate their culture,” he said.
However, he congratulated the parade organisers, which he said “was designed to bring the community together during the July celebrations and I felt it did just that”.
“I will also write to the Parades Commission and the PSNI refuting any claims of ‘intimidation’ - this is a clear attack on unionist culture and those in positions of responsibility should give no credence to these ridiculous claims and politically-motivated opposition,” he added.
