A compromise too far on marches?

Sir — The long-anticipated resolution to the camp at Twaddell and associated protests may have arrived, but is it the right decision, the right compromise or even the right thing to do? Are we allowing the political practicalities of life in post-conflict Northern Ireland to dictate our actions, to place common good over common sense?

It appears to be an appeasement of the Orange Order and its fellow loyalist travellers.

The real victims of Orange Order marches past homes and businesses on the Crumlin Road have always been the residents of Ardoyne, Crumlin Road and the Dales who have been subjected to sectarian abuse, threats, provocation, violence and injury.

Shop owners have been forced to close not ranks but premises. They have been forced into debt and had their dreams, ambitions and finances destroyed.

The community of Ardoyne has nightly suffered the barrage of parades and the military-style police incursions into the area with attendant stop and search detentions.

Should the Orange lodges and their loyalist associates be rewarded with a return parade because it suits Sinn Fein and others to facilitate yet another sectarian march?

The carrot being dangled is the closure of Camp Twaddell and an end to millions being squandered on police overtime to protect a camp that should never have been allowed to exist.

I have reservations regarding the trustworthiness of many of these groups, but in the longer term I have one major concern. This dialogue between the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents’ Association and the Orange lodges has one specific mandate — to reconcile return parades on July 12 by agreement.

Will we in effect have Sinn Fein and the DUP deciding who parades where and when?

If this is the case, Ardoyne may very well find itself used yet again as a bargaining chip by our political masters in the continuing game of chess that passes for local politics. Fra Hughes

Belfast