Orange splits widen
by Sean O'Tuama
Violence erupted in Portadown on Saturday 26 September following
a rally by the Orange Order. However, due to the smaller than
expected turnout the trouble was relatively minor. Four RUC men
received minor injuries and two loyalists were arrested during
scuffles in the town after the rally. Later that evening another
RUC man was slightly injured by a firework near Drumcree church
by loyalist protesters.
Some two thousand Orangemen and loyalists from across the North
attended the rally at Carlton Street Orange Hall in the town
centre. Grand Master, Robert Saulters, addressed the crowd,
condemning the Parades Commission, the Northern Ireland Office
and RUC chief Flanagan.
He went on to say that progress over the siege of the Garvaghy
estate could be made if the residents' spokesperson, Brendan
MacCionnaith, was ``taken out'' of the coalition. And he urged
loyalists to go to Drumcree at least once a week to support the
Order.
Responding to Saulters' comments, MacCionnaith said, ``he probably
gave the game away when he said that if the people of the
Garvaghy Road wanted to get asleep at night they should get rid
of me. Is he now admitting that the Orange Order have been behind
protests every night in Portadown?''
A petition was launched at the rally in support of the continuing
loyalist protest at Drumcree church.
Unionist MP, Martin Smyth added an even more sinister note to the
event by suggesting that the Order's ``difficulties'' could be
overcome if loyalists ``contended more earnestly for their faith''.
Sinn Fein Assembly member, Martin McGuinness, said that Smyth's
presence at the rally showed that the Ulster Unionist party was
``encouraging sectarian conflict.''
Sinn Féin Assembly member, Dara O'Hagan, called on David Trimble
to meet with the Garvaghy residents to resolve the ongoing siege
of the estate. She said, ``the ever increasing intimidation of the
nationalist population in Portadown must be addressed by both
community and political leaders, and David Trimble as first
minister and the local MP clearly has an important role to play
in resolving these difficult matters.''
The facade of Orange unity dissipated by Sunday when it was
revealed that the Orange dissident group, the Spirit of Drumcree,
was considering pushing for disciplinary proceedings against
David Trimble for attending the funerals of Catholics killed in
the Omagh bomb.
By Tuesday, the Order's Armagh County Grand Chaplain, William
Bingham, was trying to appeal to both factions by declaring his
support for loyalist protests but adding that such protests could
undermine the Order's ``battle for hearts and minds.'' He was
speaking at the twelfth annual Evangelical - Roman Catholic
conference in Belfast. The conference was picketed by Free
Presbyterians whose leader, Ian Paisley, accused Bingham and his
fellow clerics of ``flirting with Popery'' by their presence at the
meeting.
Meanwhile, Dunloy Parents and Residents Association have
information from a ``very good source'' that the Order are planning
a ``show of strength'' in the town some night this week. There's
justifiable concern that the Order's presence would spark
trouble, not only because of the violence in Portadown but also
due to the trouble following the Orange march in Downpatrick last
Friday. During this latter march, loyalists attacked the RUC with
missiles and fireworks.
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