Orange Intimidation on Garvaghy Road
As the 1,000th day of the siege of Garvaghy Road approaches,
Orange protesters have again taken to the streets of Portadown.
Around 300 members of the Orange Order, many of them wearing
masks, blockaded the town centre end of Garvaghy Road on Monday
evening, 12 February.
The Orange protesters then moved on to Craigwell Avenue, which
leads to the nationalist Obins Street and where loyalists have in
the past attacked nationalist homes.
According to Independent nationalist councillor and Garvaghy Road
spokesperson Breandán Mac Cionnaith, the Orangemen shouted abuse
at Catholic residents and attacked several cars.
``In the most serious attack, four women returning from a night
out were badly shocked after Orangemen surrounded their car and
badly damaged the vehicle.
``To have large numbers of men assembling outside your home during
the hours of darkness is no doubt very frightening and
intimidating. That is exactly what these Orange demonstrations
are about - to frighten and coerce the local Catholic community'',
stated Mac Cionnaith.
The picket, one of the first of its kind since last November
comes just a week after parades mediator South African lawyer
Brian Currin warned the Orange Order of the ``dire'' consequences
of their refusal to engage in direct dialogue with nationalist
residents to resolve the parades issue.
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