UDA leader Jackie McDonald has said the Twelfth of July is "the worst day of the year" thanks to trouble from drinkers on the day.

He said the Orange Order should march just one way in North Belfast and then disperse, rather than trying to return past the Ardoyne shops.

Mr McDonald's suggestion was greeted with anger from parade chiefs who said the remarks were "totally irresponsible".

The UDA leader said: "There's nothing wrong with the outward parade, but it's the way the hangers-on spend four to five hours drinking before going home when the trouble kicks off. Most of it is between different loyalist factions, the UDA, the UVF and the Red Hand Commando. All the old jealousies and rivalries surface. There's not a Catholic for miles. It creates tensions and trouble and it does the Orange Order and the bands no favours at all. I think they should forget that part of the parade completely."

But the North and West Belfast Parades and Cultural Forum, which represents lodges and bands, rejected the suggestion.

Winston Irvine of the forum said: "Jackie McDonald's comments are his own personal views, but I do not think that, three days before the march and with the situation on a knife-edge, his comments have been helpful in any way whatsoever. For well over 100 years lodges have been traversing these routes and now Jackie McDonald thinks that they should give that up. I think what he has said has been totally irresponsible."

(NE)