Nationalist fears over Drumcree rally plans
(Barry McCaffrey, Irish News)
The Orange Order on Tuesday denied that paramilitaries will be allowed to take part in a “monster rally” planned for Drumcree next month.
Portadown Orangemen have filed for a parade and rally at Drumcree Hill on Saturday September 23 to mark 3,000 days of protests against not being allowed to march along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road since 1998.
Portadown spokesman David Jones said he expected thousands of Orangemen and loyalists from across the north to attend the rally.
Nationalists last night questioned the potential damage that the rally would have on community relations in Portadown and highlighted a similar parade in west Belfast last September after which the security forces came under gun and blast bomb attack from loyalists.
At that time Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde insisted that the Orange Order could not disassociate itself from the violence.
However, Mr Jones insisted no paramilitaries would be allowed to be involved in next month’s rally.
“We don’t anticipate any kind of trouble and will be appealing for calm,” he said.
“Paramilitaries will not be involved in any shape or form.
“The paramilitaries know they are not needed in Portadown.”
Mr Jones said he expected 800 Orangemen and at least three bands to take part in the parade from Carlton Street in Portadown town centre to the rally at Drumcree Hill.
He said that Orangemen and loyalists from across the north had been invited to attend, although there would be no attempt to parade back from Drumcree along the contentious Garvaghy Road route.
However, Garvaghy Road residents’ spokesman Brendan Mac Cionnaith questioned the effect the “monster rally” would have on community relations in Portadown.
“It is regrettable that the Orange Order has decided to recommence its street protests over Drumcree,” he said.
“It is slightly ominous that Orangemen from right across the six counties are being encouraged to attend this monster rally.
“We do not see how bringing thousands of loyalists out on to the streets will help to improve community relations in Portadown.
“Nationalists will simply view it as an act of intimidation.”
Mr Mac Cionnaith highlighted the fact that the main speaker at the rally will be the area’s MP, DUP assembly member David Simpson.
“Nationalists will question whether this rally is about marking 3,000 days of protests at Drumcree or is actually a DUP plan to increase political tensions ahead of attempts to restore devolution at Stormont in November,” he said.
Mr Mac Cionnaith said nationalists had concerns that the parade would pass St John’s Catholic Church as parishioners attended evening Mass.
August 31, 2006
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This article appeared first in the August 30, 2006 edition of the Irish News.
