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05/07/2002
Parades Commission refuse to meet Order at Drumcree
The chairman of the Parades Commission in Northern Ireland has rejected a request from Portadown Orangemen to go to Drumcree this weekend to meet them.
The Orangemen asked to meet Tony Holland on Sunday so that they could hand over their formal letter of protest at the police barrier which will block them from the Garvaghy Road for the fifth year running.
A spokesman for the Orange Order said they also wanted Mr Holland to come and see the “hurt and harm” he was causing by denying Orangemen the basic right to walk home from their church service.
“We feel it is important that Mr Holland come and see for himself the damage he is doing to the peace process and Northern Ireland as a whole,” they said.
“He has to see that he is responsible for this blight on democracy – the barrier,” the Order added.
Mr Holland last night thanked the Orangemen for their invitation to Drumcree, which he said he appreciated.
But a statement from the Commission added: “However he felt that the inevitable very brief and public nature of such a proposed meeting would be counterproductive.”
Portadown Orangemen have constantly refused to meet the Parades Commission or Mr Holland and have only made contact informally.
Mr Holland said following his refusal to meet on Sunday that he “looks forward to taking up the invitation and looks forward to meeting them at the earliest opportunity”.
The Orange Order has confirmed there will be a standoff on Sunday but that it will be a peaceful and dignified protest.
Stephen Chambers, spokesman for the Orange Order said: “We have consistently condemned violence from whatever side of the communal divide.
“We have asked unionists to attend this dignified protest but only if they intend to keep it calm and peaceful.
He added: “We do no want so-called loyalists coming in and upsetting an already fragile atmosphere. Our message is very clear to those people: clear off.”
Meanwhile, senior police and army officers are putting the finishing touches to the major security operation they will again be forced to mount to enforce the Parade’s Commission ban.
Army engineers are expected to move in early on Saturday to set up the barriers to keep the parade from the Garvaghy Road.
(AMcE)
The Orangemen asked to meet Tony Holland on Sunday so that they could hand over their formal letter of protest at the police barrier which will block them from the Garvaghy Road for the fifth year running.
A spokesman for the Orange Order said they also wanted Mr Holland to come and see the “hurt and harm” he was causing by denying Orangemen the basic right to walk home from their church service.
“We feel it is important that Mr Holland come and see for himself the damage he is doing to the peace process and Northern Ireland as a whole,” they said.
“He has to see that he is responsible for this blight on democracy – the barrier,” the Order added.
Mr Holland last night thanked the Orangemen for their invitation to Drumcree, which he said he appreciated.
But a statement from the Commission added: “However he felt that the inevitable very brief and public nature of such a proposed meeting would be counterproductive.”
Portadown Orangemen have constantly refused to meet the Parades Commission or Mr Holland and have only made contact informally.
Mr Holland said following his refusal to meet on Sunday that he “looks forward to taking up the invitation and looks forward to meeting them at the earliest opportunity”.
The Orange Order has confirmed there will be a standoff on Sunday but that it will be a peaceful and dignified protest.
Stephen Chambers, spokesman for the Orange Order said: “We have consistently condemned violence from whatever side of the communal divide.
“We have asked unionists to attend this dignified protest but only if they intend to keep it calm and peaceful.
He added: “We do no want so-called loyalists coming in and upsetting an already fragile atmosphere. Our message is very clear to those people: clear off.”
Meanwhile, senior police and army officers are putting the finishing touches to the major security operation they will again be forced to mount to enforce the Parade’s Commission ban.
Army engineers are expected to move in early on Saturday to set up the barriers to keep the parade from the Garvaghy Road.
(AMcE)
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