British government praises restraint of Drumcree protest

The British Government tonight praised the dignity and restraint shown so far by both sides in the Drumcree parade dispute. In a statement responding to an Orange Order call for an explanation why the parade had been halted, the Government said that the Prime Minister had made every effort to reach a satisfactory conclusion to the parades issue and regrettably in the absence of that, the Parade's Commission had to make a lawful ruling.

The statement was issued through the Northern Ireland office, but was clearly reflecting the opinions of Tony Blair. It also insisted that security forces would continue to uphold the rule of law so that everyone can go about their lawful business in as normal a way as possible.

Meanwhile, numbers at Drumcree swelled as the evening wore on, but the peaceful atmosphere was maintained. Several hundred people filled the road between the church and the security force barricades but did little more than mill around. There were further tests of the police security with first a Union flag and then an Australian flag carried through the barbed wire to be planted on the last line of defence. The RUC ignored the activities, as they did the smoke flare that detonated on the no-man's land between the two sides.

Earlier today, the spokesman for the Garvaghy Road Residents' Association, Brendán MacCionnaith called for face-to-face dialogue with the Orange Order to avoid a similar situation arising next year. Mr MacCionnaith said that as far as he was concerned, the 1999 parade at Drumcree was over and it was time to start thinking about the future. Mr MacCionnaith told a press conference that he and the Portadown district grand master Harold Gracey would have to meet. Mr Gracey rejected the notion of dialogue with nationalist leaders and said that the only people he would be willing to talk to were the British prime minister and his private secretary.

Mr Gracey said that the Orangemen would remain at Drumcree for as long as it takes. He urged those who wishw to cause trouble to stay away, and said that he hoped that the ecumenical clergy would realise that their way was not the way of the Portadown Orange Order. County Armagh Grand Master of the Orange Order, Dennis Watson, said that the days of the Parade's Commission could be numbered. Their existence, he said, was because the British government thought more of republicanism than of Protestant British citizens.

Following today's peaceful parade, Orangemen held a rally outside the Drumcree rectory. Nine Orangemen - including Harold Gracey - arrived at the security barrier at the top of the Garvaghy road, and made a verbal request to pass. The request was refused. A protest at the steel barrier at the church was delayed while Orange marshalls moved protestors away from the area. The Deputy District Master, David Burroughs told those gathered that unless everyone moved away from the obstacle, a protest would not take place.

Thousands of Orangeman from County Armagh left Carlton Orange Hall in the centre of Portadown en route to Drumcree this morning. They were preceded by the participants in the Protestant civil rights walk, the Long March, who were on the final leg of a ten-day journey from Derry. There were cheers and applause from supporters who lined the streets. There was a heavy security presence along the route as armoured cars and RUC in riot gear lined the streets. Police seized pickaxe handles, wire cutters, combat clothing and petrol when they stopped a car in Portadown. Four people from East Belfast were arrested, according to an RUC spokesman. The seizures were the first tangible sign that hardliners may be intent on trying to cause trouble at Drumcree despite the pleas for calm from the Orange order.

Last night the situation in Drumcree was described as relatively peaceful, though at one stage about 1000 protestors were said to have been at the security barrier. Police said that the number had fallen to about 200 by midnight and later dwindled to about 30. During the protest a number of fireworks were thrown at police, but no one was injured.

An Orange Hall at Warrenpoint in County Down was badly damaged in an arson attack overnight. In the Republic, arsonists attacked a church of the Reverend Ian Paisley's denomination. The rector of the Free Presbyterian church at Drum in County Monaghan, the Reverend Gordon Dane, said that fires were set in several places around the building. The porch was damaged and a portable building used as a Sunday school was destroyed.