BELFAST'S historic homecoming parade for the armed forces is to be brought forward by an hour, the News Letter can reveal.
As the Parade Commission nears a decision on whether to allow both the armed forces and Sinn Fein to parade in the city centre, the News Letter understands that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has now proposed that it hold the homecoming parade earlier.

The MoD had originally asked to hold the parade at 12.45pm on Sunday, November 2, prompting Sinn Fein to then apply to hold a 12pm counter-march in protest at the troops.

But now the MoD has submitted an altered application has been submitted which will see the homecoming parade begin at 11.45am from outside the gates of the RBAI school.

A spokesman for the Parades Commission, which has held high-level meetings with senior politicians and top PSNI officers in recent days, said that yesterday it had deliberated late into the night about the issue.

"At this point in time, we expect there to be a decision sometime this afternoon," the spokesman said.

All that a Ministry of Defence spokesman would say was: "We are doing all we possibly can do to have peaceful, respectful and solemn parade for those who have been deployed."

Sinn Fein's attempt to disrupt the armed forces' Belfast homecoming parade last night looking increasingly isolated after both the SDLP and a prominent Catholic priest urged the party to allow the parade to pass peacefully.

On Friday morning Ulster medics will return to the Province from Afghanistan.

Territorial Army members of 204 (North Irish) Field Hospital - most of whom are NHS doctors and nurses in Ulster hospitals - will return to Belfast where they will be reunited with their families.

The unit's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Iain Moles, said that the medics were looking forward to coming home.

"Talk is now of home, Ulster fries, Guinness, who Ulster are playing at Ravenhill and will we be home in time for the next home game," he said.
Speaking of the medics' time in Helmand Province, he said: "A few have been out on the ground and seen a little of what can be a starkly beautiful land, but this has been a working visit and not a tourist opportunity.

"There is an overwhelming feeling of having done well; the unit have every right to be proud of their achievements.

"We have been the busiest hospital on Op Herrick of any so far.

"Over 400 operations, 1,000 ED attendances, 246 patients in ITU/HDU, 500 admitted to wards and sadly over 55 deaths, some quite gristly.
"Still, going home to the NHS will be different, it will lack the cohesion speed and focus of care here, we will be back to waiting lists and trolley waits, targets and deadlines."

Good to see you all coming up for the parade RSAUB. I was there myself,it was a great turn out. They said on the TV 30,000 supporters and 2,500 of the 'offended ones'.

I was in Chichester St opposite the Garrick Bar. We were heading on up towards the City Hall,but people coming down said ''its bunged up there' so we 'stayed put'. It was a good move as I could have shook hands with the soldiers as they came past us.

The weather was great,and the crowds were great. A great day all round.

Troops welcomed home

Published Date: 03 November 2008
I think we've been surprised in a lot of different ways with the homecoming we have received.
It has been the most fantastic expression of public support and I am overwhelmed.

It's difficult to capture in words but this parade has been such an emotional experience and it has been been a warm, personal, humane expression of support for the soldiers who are asked by their country to do difficult tasks.

This is extremely important for the soldiers.

To adjust from an operational high where daily you face a threat on your life to going back into normal military soldiering or even just to rejoin your family is very difficult.

When deployed, you are unaware of the degree of support or indeed opposition of the general public – it is not well captured by the media.

To see it today means a lot to the soldiers.

It means that what they have been doing is appreciated because it is so rarely expressed in such a manner as has been seen here by the tens of thousands on the streets of Belfast.

That will sustain the soldiers – not just in this difficult period of adjustment back to normal life but as they transition through a military career, being asked again and again by the Government to do difficult tasks.

This welcome says that the people of Northern Ireland are extraordinary in their support for the services.

I think they always have been but because of Troubles it had, in the past, been difficult for us to see that.

That is what is lovely about the progress that's been made in Northern Ireland in terms of cross-community relations – the fact that this can take place.

It hasn't been an expression of triumphalism or provoking another element of the community.

I am a Catholic myself, as are many of my officers, warrant officers and soldiers.

That is not the issue to be focusing on.

It's about the unified effort of Irish infantry down the ages, continuing to serve in an incredibly brave, professional and disciplined manner.

In Shropshire, where we are based, we received a great welcome.

Market Drayton is a small county town and with their heart they expressed similar warmth but on a different scale.

Shrewsbury held a beautiful Abbey service for us and the support as we marched through was of a similar nature.

But Belfast, if I'm honest, has put this on a different scale.

It has surpassed all our expectations and most of us will find it difficult to put it into words.

All I hope to do is thank the people of Northern Ireland for coming out in such numbers and behaving in such a dignified manner to salute and acknowledge the service of the men and women of the Royal Irish battlegroup.

l To see more of Lt Col Freely meeting members of the public, watch the video online at www.newsletter.co.uk

The full article contains 493 words and appears in News Letter newspaper.

The republicans protests I think actually only numbered 600-700 and from what I could see on the news of their placards most of the names of those killed on them were killed by loyalist groups and had nothing whatsoever to do with the RIR. Sinn Fein/IRA killed more Roman Catholics from the Island of Ireland than the security forces did during the troubles, yet they have the nerve to go on about Catholics being killed by the army, pure hypocrites, also shows their true colours, they have no intention of having Belfast or any other part of Ulster as a shared space for both communities, any loyalist whos fooling himself into believing that all the troubles and so on are behind us needs too waken up, the enemies of our country are still hell bent on eradicating everything remotely relating too Britishness.

Yes the crowds converging from all the different parts was indeed a site to behold. I was with the East ones. As I looked back from the Queens Bridge I could still see them still coming past the Short Strand, and I wasn't at the front of the crowd. Plus there were another few batches past us ahead of the main contingent,as we were waiting at Templemore Ave for the main section to come along.

Its a day to remember for the rest of our lives. The soldiers too really enjoyed it I think. And the sun coming out capped what was a great day all round.

I think that anybody that is taken in by republican 'nicey-nice'stuff are just not with it. They hate [as you say] anything British with an intense hatred. They will always be the same.

Another clip of sundays parade.

I think your clip confirms that. Up Fisherwick Place and into Howard St. As i said I was in Chichester St,so never got anywhere near there.

A great day all round and one which will live in the memory. This Sunday will be another one. I usually end up with the Rifles Association,where we sing a few 'remerbrance songs' with an Ulster association to them. Looking forward to that 'un too.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/norther....n.shtml