THE ORANGE ORDER has been refused permission to march along the parade route that has been a flashpoint for trouble between nationalists and unionists in Northern Ireland.

The Parades Commission has said that the Order cannot walk past the Ardoyne shops on the Crumlin Road in north Belfast this Saturday.

It has ruled that the parade of around 500 Orangemen and three marching bands must end at the junction of Woodvale Road and Woodvale Parade.

This is around 300 metres short of the shops located on the stretch of road that separates loyalist and nationalist communities in the north of the city.

There has been persistent rioting in the area since the 12 July parade was banned from marching along that route. The Commission has also ruled that groups must disperse by 4.30pm on Saturday.

In its determination issued this evening, the Commission said it heard oral representations from members of the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association, Sinn Féin an the SDLP as well as representations from residents in the Woodvale Parade and Road areas.

However it noted its disappointment that it did not receive any representations from the parade organiser or any unionist politicians.

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