The protest camp at Twaddell Avenue

THE Orange lodge involved in a three-year long parade dispute in north Belfast has confirmed its protest camp will be suspended.

In a statement the Ballysillan Orange Lodge confirmed it was suspending its protest at Camp Twaddell from noon today (Saturday, August 6).

The protest has been ongoing at Twaddell Avenue since July 2013. Serious violence erupted in 2013 when the Parades Commission banned the Orange Order from passing the Ardoyne interface as members made their way back from the Twelfth parade.

Loyalists have held almost daily protest parades in the area since then. The lodge recently opposed a deal, which would have seen bands parade past the Ardoyne shopfronts on the morning of July 11.

In the statement the lodge said it had been “left with no option” but to suspend the protest, citing the “absence of honesty and good faith by others” in reference to the latest attempts at a deal.

However, Ballysillan Lodge says it will continue to apply to the commission to secure permission to march on the same route, only on the evening of the Twelfth of July, which has been prohibited.

The lodge said it will not “abandon our aim of a return evening parade and will continue to apply for that and no one is empowered to negotiate on our behalf about our future applications”.

The cost of policing the protest to date is believed to be in excess of £19 million, equivalent to £24,000 a day. The majority of the bill is police overtime.

A spokesman for the County Grand Lodge of Belfast said it respected the decision.

"The County Grand Orange Lodge of Belfast, notes the public comments of Ballysillan LOL 1891 and respects their decision to suspend their participation in any further protests regarding securing a homeward parade along the Crumlin Road. However the protest will continue until a resolution is found. There will be no further public comment by the Orange Institution on this development."

Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly said removing the camp would be a positive move.

“If this is the end of nightly protests then it is to be welcomed. People in the area will be relieved at any such move.

“Sinn Féin has been consistent in our support of inclusive dialogue involving local communities and parade organisers in order to arrive at a resolution to these issues.

"All of us in positions of political leadership have a responsibility to continue to do all in our power to support those in local communities involved in seeking resolution to contentious issues through dialogue."

A statement released by the Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective (GARC) said they believed the development meant a deal was in the offing between the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association and the loyal orders that would see a return parade facilitated.

"While residents will be thankful that the hate camp is to go, it is disgraceful that this criminal enterprise was facilitated by Stormont and the PSNI for over three years.

"In their statement Ballysillan LOL 1891 confirm a number of concerns that GARC raised about the Sinn Fein/UVF deal but which were denied by Sinn Fein to residents' faces on doorsteps and at their own public meeting.

"These include the alternative route not being discussed, the linkage between Springfield and Ardoyne 'deals', reward funding for Sinn Fein and UVF linked phantom groups and the planned exclusion of organisations central to this issue. This Orange lodge also recognises that Sinn Fein cannot deliver on an end to residents' protests as GARC will continue our protests.

"We would also guard against celebration. The UVF and Sinn Fein will remain determined to push ahead with their deal, one that GARC shall resist."