Tensions surrounding a contentious Co Derry church parade taking place this weekend have eased after the Parades Commission revealed the Orange Order planned to revert back to an agreement which was made last year with the local residents’ group.
Dungiven Faith and Crown Defenders LOL hold the parade in the mainly nationalist town every year.
However. in recent years, tensions over the parade have escalated as the number of participants have increased year-on-year.
Last year, the event passed off peacefully after an agreement was reached between the local Lodge and the community group over the number of participants taking part.
It was agreed that it would not exceed 75 participants.
This year however, the Lodge proposed that 80 participants would take part this year’s parade taking place on Sunday next.
Despite meeting with the Dungiven Residents’ Group, the Parades Commission ruled that it was ‘not appropriate’ to place any conditions on this year’s parade.
Following this, Dungiven’s Residents’ Group vowed to monitor the situation.
It was also feared that locals would stage a protest during the parade if the matter was not resolved.
In an earlier statement from Dungiven’s Residents’ Group, residents stated the changes could not go ‘unchallenged.’
However, a spokesperson for the Parades Commission said they had been advised by the Lodge that the number of participants had been reduced to 75.
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