Justice Minister appeals for calm over the Twelfth holidays

5.13.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 9th Jul 2010

Justice Minister David Ford

Justice Minister David Ford has appealed for calm over the Twelfth holidays

The Minister recently met with the PSNI and was briefed on the policing operation covering the annual demonstrations across Northern Ireland.

David Ford said: "I welcome the efforts of all those who are working to secure a peaceful outcome on Monday.

"The PSNI, politicians and community leaders have all invested a great deal of time and effort to ensure that all the parades pass off without incident.

"This is the first Twelfth since the devolution of policing and justice powers. Ultimately resolutions to contentious parades rest in the hands of our community and I know that those who have influence will continue to show leadership and work with their communities to ease tensions where they exist."