Cavan/Monaghan delegation visits Garvaghy Road
Caoimhghín O Caoláin TD, Councillor Brian McKenna,Vice-Chairperson of
Monaghan County Council, and newly elected Sinn Féin Cavan County
Councillor Pauline Tully visited the Garvaghy Road in Portadown last week.
The delegation was greeted by Councillor Joe Duffy of the Garvaghy Road
Residents Coalition and met with many members of the local community as
well as a number of human rights observers who have been monitoring the
situation.
Councillor McKenna said that the Drumcree stand-off was ``by no means over''
and stated that the nationalist community there was still under siege. He
told The Northern Standard:
``The people of the Garvaghy Road were very appreciative of the support they
have received from people in Counties Cavan, Monaghan and throughout the
country. We received a very warm welcome.
``The Garvaghy Road community is under enormous pressure with the threat of
violence hanging over them all the time. Despite reports to the contrary
which give the impression that the Orange Order has relented, the reality
is that people there are still under siege. The Orange Order is insisting
that it will march down Garvaghy Road where it is not welcome. It still
refuses to meet the elected representatives of the residents.
``This current stand-off has lasted over a year now but people tend to
forget that nationalists in Portadown have been under siege by the Orange
Order for generations. They are determined that the days of siege must be
ended for good.''
Deputy O Caoláin urged dialogue to end the siege:
``The Garvaghy Road issue can only be resolved by direct dialogue between
the residents and the Orange Order. The continued refusal of the Order to
meet residents shows that it is not sincere about finding a mutually
acceptable resolution. I would urge all elected representatives to demand
that the Orange Order accept its reponsibilities in this regard.
``Our delegation left the community on Garvaghy Road with a pledge of our
continued support for their right to live, in the words of the Good Friday
Agreement, ` free from sectarian harassment.'''
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