Derry march agreement?
Derry residents, as well as those in small
villages, are wondering if this time the Apprentice Boys might
actually take the opportunity created for them by the
conciliation efforts of the Bogside residents and others, and
march with consent in Derry.
Bogside residents approached Rev. Roy Magee, a well-respected
Protestant clergymen instrumental in negotiating the1994 Loyalist
ceasefire, to mediate in the dispute. Derry Mayor Martin Bradley
of the SDLP also held separate meetings with both residents and
community groups, and the Apprentice Boys, seeking a path through
the impasse over the planned Apprentice Boys march on 9 August in
Derry.
Magee, referring to the residents, said ``there's a large measure
of agreement and conciliation'' and offered the opinion that
``agreement is not far away.''
Residents told the Apprentice Boys that if the `Boys' can control
``feeder marches'' in areas such Dunloy, Bellaghy and Lower Ormeau,
that they would not object to them marching in Derry.
The Apprentice Boys agreed to ``exercise influence and
flexibility'' regarding these feeder marches, although insisted
that they could not control any branches, as each operated
independently. They also agreed to consider proximity talks with
the Bogside residents about the August 9th march.
Bogside residents spokesperson Donncha MacNiallais welcomed the
progress but rejected claims that the Apprentice Boys could not
control branches in other areas:
``The Grand Lodge of Ireland was able to dictate change to local
lodges on July 12th. Last year on August 10, there were no
problems with feeder parades in areas such as Dunloy, Bellaghy
and Lower Ormeau. Obviously they were getting direction, which
had to come from the General Committee of the Apprentice Boys.''
MacNiallais said nationalists would like assurance from the Boys
on the feeder parades issue. ``There's not much use having people
``use their influence'' if at the end of the day, that doesn't
resolve the issue, and people are forced off their streets by RUC
personnel in Dunloy, Lower Ormeau or Bellaghy.''
A generous face-saving opportunity has been created for the
Apprentice Boys. Will they rise to the occasion?
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)