Three charged over Drumcree violence

Three men have appeared in court in the North in connection with an attack on police lines at the controversial Orange Order parade in Portadown, Co Armagh, yesterday.

The three were charged with riotous assembly, a scheduled offence under emergency anti-terrorism legislation.

The men, 43-year-old David Cully, from Markethill, Co Armagh, 17-year-old Alan Cheney from Glengormley, Co Antrim, and 37-year-old Mark Wilson, from Maghera in Co Derry, were all remanded in custody. A total of 24 police officers were injured during the violence.

Meanwhile, the North’s First Minister, himself an Orangeman, is today visiting one of the two police officers still receiving treatment following the attack yesterday afternoon.

David Trimble condemned the violence, which followed the Parades Commission’s decision to ban the Drumcree parade from entering the nationalist Garvaghy Road for the fifth consecutive year.

However, Mr Trimble said the Portadown Orange Order cannot be blamed for the clashes.