Trimble finally meets Garvaghy spokespersons
After delaying four years, UUP leader, First minister designate, and
local MP David Trimble finally met with Garvaghy Road resident's
spokesperson Breandan MacCionnaith in Craigavon on Tuesday night, 4
May.
The three-and-a-half hour meeting, four years after the residents had
first requested one, was described as ``positive and constructive'' by
MacCionnaith and is set to be followed by a second meeting next week.
MacCionnaith said: ````This is a step which we asked for four years ago
and it has now taken place. We need to focus our minds on the meeting
next week.''
The only absentees from the meeting that included local councillors
and assembly members were Craigavon's DUP mayor Mervyn Carrick - a
move described as ``hypocritical'' given his frequent calls for
dialogue - and Orange Order County Armagh grand master, United
Unionist Assembly member Denis Watson.
Sinn Féin Assembly member Dr. Dara O'Hagan, who attended the talks
along with Sinn Féin councillor John O'Dowd, said ``it was unfortunate
that the root cause of the ongoing siege of the Garvaghy Road, the
Orange Order, were outside the Civic Centre and not inside engaging
with representatives of the residents''.
A large crowd of loyalists hurled abuse at nationalists as they
entered the talks, chanting ``Fenian bastards'' and ``Where's Robert?''
and ``Where's Rosemary?'' in reference to Robert Hamill who was kicked
to death by loyalists in Portadown in 1997 and Rosemary Nelson
murdered by loyalists in March.
O'Hagan also condemned the presence of DUP Assembly member Paul Berry
in the loyalist crowd, accusing him for attempting to whip up
sectarian tension in Portadown just ``as small steps are being taken
to promote dialogue''.
O'Hagan said: ``Paul Berry and his rent-a-mob were clearly intent on
threatening and intimidating those taking part. He is not an elected
representative for the area and had no errand attending the meeting.
``The despicable chanting, glorifying the murders of Robert Hamill and
Rosemary Nelson show the selective attitude of the DUP towards the
victims of the conflict here. If the DUP wish to dissociate
themselves from these sectarian boot boys, they should immediately
take action against Berry and his fellow travellers. The nationalist
community in Portadown and across the Six Counties await the response
of both the DUP and the Orange Order to the sectarian antics of Paul
Berry.''
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