UK: NORTHERN IRELAND: DRUMCREE UNREST

Описание: (7 Jul 2000) English/Nat
XFA

Orangemen will be banned from marching through a nationalist area of Portadown on Sunday, the body governing parades in Northern Ireland confirmed tonight.

The Parades Commission upheld its ruling from Monday forbidding the Orange Order from marching through the Garvaghy Road this weekend during its annual Drumcree parade, following an appeal from the Portadown District.

Protestant militants rallied across Northern Ireland for a fifth straight night in frustration at the denial.

Following heavy criticism from many quarters over the week's violent clashes in the British province, road blockades and other protests remained largely peaceful on Friday.

The confirmation on Friday by the Parades Commission that the Orange Order will not be permitted to walk down Garvaghy Road was a severe blow to loyalists.

The Commission said that they were encouraged by the Orange Order's affirmations that the procession would be peaceful, but cited the violence that has been rife across Northern Ireland for the last five day.

No matter what the Orangemen's intentions, the Commission did not believe that extreme military organisations or unprincipled hooligan elements could be kept under control.

The leader of the Portadown Orangemen, Harold Gracey, ruled out talks with nationalists unless the loyalists are allowed to march down the Garvaghy Road.

Gracey also refused to condemn the violence of past days following his call for hundreds of thousands to take to the streets.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Our people's frustrated right across the country and you people in the media probably know we've been frustrated for the last, well 30 years because of terrorism and as far as I'm concerned, that's starting to come out now - our people, their, backs are to the wall.
Q: So will you condemn the violence?
No, I'm not condemning no violence, Gerry Adams never condemns violence, or murder even."
SUPER CAPTION: Harold Gracey, Leader of Portadown Orange Lodge

His supporters too remained defiant.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"But they'll not beat us, we'll win it, at the end of the day we'll win. We'll have them all rally-running all over Northern Ireland."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox pop

In the area around Drumcree, the British Army and the Royal Ulster Constabulary are reinforcing security measures ahead of Sunday's contentious march - expected to be the climax of a week of unrest.

Protests on Friday remained peaceful as some 50-thousand people attended a memorial service for Northern Ireland's protestant motorcycle ace Joey Dunlop, killed in a road accident last week.

The extent of the violence was revealed as police announced that 37 policed officers and two soldiers had been injured in the street violence.

The injuries were suffered during 145 attacks on the security forces, including 12 gun attacks over five nights of trouble.

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