28th October 1998

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'From Riots to Rights: Nationalist Parades in the North of Ireland' is a new and original report from the University of Ulster's Centre for the Study of Conflict (its third research report on parades in recent years).

The report focuses on Catholic, nationalist and republican parades, and examines the long history of disputes in this sector and the perceived inequality of treatment and status afforded these parades as compared to unionist parades.

It also looks at how those inequalities manifest themselves today, and argues that there has never been a better time than now to develop equal rights to public political expression for both sides in Northern Ireland.

The authors of the report, Dr Neil Jarman and Dr Dominic Bryan, examine the historical development of nationalist and republican parades in Northern Ireland, and argue that the nationalist parading 'tradition' was often opposed by sections of the unionist community and that considerations of public order have often led to the police restricting parades held by both communities.

"Lessons can be learnt from the past. By looking at the development of parading disputes in places such as Portadown, Lurgan, and Derry we can get a clearer understanding of why such conflicts have emerged and become difficult to solve," said Dr Bryan.

The argument is then developed that Northern Ireland has returned to the agenda of civil rights and that it is vital that, unlike the late 1960s, the state is able to give access to diverse political expression.

The report highlights the failure of the British legal system to deal with disputes in the area of civil rights, and the need to develop a greater understanding on human rights issues. It also highlights the need to look critically at public order policing, and in particular to develop and broaden community based approaches to public order.

The authors also examine a number of factors that have led to historical changes in the parading tradition, including the population balance in a particular area, the role of the police, the interests of governments and the level of tolerance that exits at a particular time.

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk