Peaceful march raises hopes of quiet summer

HOPES of another quiet marching season in Northern Ireland this summer were raised after the annual parade to Drumcree passed off peacefully yesterday.

Orangemen, who have been banned from marching from Drumcree Parish Church through the nationalist Garvaghy route in Portadown since 1998, were again hindered by the barrier manned by the police and army.

After taking part in a church service to commemorate those killed in the battle of the Somme during the First World War, Portadown Orangemen vowed to continue their efforts to walk down the Garvaghy Road.

Their District Master David Burrowes also hit out at the decision of the Parades Commission in Northern Ireland to ban them yet again while allowing Orangemen in Belfast to march along a controversial route last week.

"Since we were stopped in 1998 the Portadown District has continued to parade to this spot each Sunday," he said.

"This now numbers over 300 occasions. I don't think that anyone can doubt our commitment to seeing this through and in having our rights restored.

"We have continually worked in a variety of ways since 1998 to try to resolve this while maintaining a stand started by our late District Master Harold Gracey," said Mr Burrowes.

"It is unfortunate, to say the least, that the Parades Commission has not recognised all the efforts the District has made these past seven years to move the matter forward.

"A time must come when these crazy decisions to uphold the nationalist veto on our parade are ended."

There was a much more low-key police and army presence on both sides of the barrier separating the nationalist Garvaghy Road residents and Orangemen.

The number of those who turned out on the Orange side also appeared to be down a lot on recent years.

The hill leading up to the Anglican church at Drumcree was not packed tight this year and no-one spilled over onto the neighbouring field.

It was estimated around 1,000 people turned up at Drumcree in support of the Orangemen this year, but in the past their protests would have attracted tens of thousands of supporters from all over Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and further afield.

Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Hugh Orde visited Drumcree to view the police operation.

However, Orange Order chiefs were urging people to ensure there was a peaceful protest.

After a minute's silence was observed for the Portadown District's Master Gracey, Mr Burrowes said that Orangemen had worked tirelessly to achieve a resolution.

"Everyone else should take a long hard look at themselves and see if they can say the same thing," he said.