Drumcree conflict
drumcree conflict drumcree standoff dispute yearly parade town portadown northern ireland town mainly protestant host numerous protestant march summer significant catholic minority orange order insists allowed march traditional route drumcree church sunday twelfth july however route mainly catholicirish nationalist part town resident see march sectarian triumphalist supremacist sought ban area intermittent violence march since outbreak trouble led dispute intensifying time contentious part route outward leg along obins street serious violence two year row march banned obins street focus shifted march return leg along garvaghy road july dispute drew international attention sparked protest violence throughout northern ireland prompted massive police british army operation threatened derail peace process situation portadown likened war zone siege resident succeeded stopping march led standoff drumcree security force thousand orangemenloyalists following wave loyalist violence police allowed march security force locked catholic area let march citing loyalist threat kill catholic stopped sparked widespread protest violence irish nationalist onward march banned garvaghy road army sealed catholic area large steel concrete barbedwire barricade year major standoff drumcree widespread loyalist violence since thing relatively calm move get two side facetoface talk failed portadown long mainly protestant unionist height conflict population protestant background catholic background town catholic irish nationalist rest northern ireland long suffered discrimination especially employment throughout th century police—royal ulster constabulary ruc—was also almost wholly protestant summer town centre bedecked loyalist flag symbol loyalist arch raised garvaghy road corcrain river inside catholic district coincide marching season numerous protestant loyalist march held town july five protestant loyalist parade enter mainly nationalist district drumcree sunday parade town centre drumcree church back biggest parade traditional route obins street→corcrain road→dungannon road→drumcree road→garvaghy road banned obins street garvaghy road july parade involves morning march corcrain orange hall town centre marcher travel bigger parade elsewhere return town centre evening march back corcrain orange hall traditional route along obins street along corcrain road july parade follows format th parade also junior orange parade may along lower garvaghy road victoria terrace orange order founded village loughgall mile drumcree battle diamond first ever march held july portadown lurgan waringstown area thus seen birthplace orangeism july year order formed reverend devine held battle boyne commemoration sermon drumcree church history ireland vol published historian francis plowden described followed sermon reverend devine worked mind audience upon retiring service gave full scope antipapistical zeal inspired falling upon every catholic met beating bruising without provocation distinction breaking door window house actually murdering two unoffending catholic bog first official orange parade drumcree church july originally traditionally celebrate battle boyne order claim commemorates battle somme world war july orangeman marched town centre drumcree via obins streetdungannon road returned along garvaghy road early th century area mostly farmland armagh magistrate william hancock protestant wrote time past peaceable inhabitant parish drumcree insulted outraged large body orangeman parading highway playing party tune firing shot using opprobrious epithet could invent added orangeman go considerable distance way pas catholic chapel march drumcree violence drumcree parade partition ireland northern ireland government policy tended favour protestant unionist parade almost parade meeting banned special power act – nearly irish nationalist republican although violence died period clash drumcree parade public order act exempted traditional parade ask police permission nontraditional parade could banned rerouted without appeal legislation tended benefit protestant parade housing estate built along garvaghy road northern ireland plunged conflict known trouble portadown underwent major population shift new estate became almost wholly catholic rest town estate became almost wholly protestant many orangeman joined northern ireland security force royal ulster constabulary ruc british army ulster defence regiment udr march thousand loyalist attended ulster vanguard rally town addressed martin smyth grand master orange order mayor portadown rally loyalist attacked catholic neighbourhood around obins street known tunnel following catholic resident formed protest group named portadown resistance council called upcoming march rerouted away obins street see map ulster defence association uda thenlegal loyalist vigilante paramilitary group warned consequence anything done stop march day march catholic sealed obins street makeshift barricade morning march sunday july british troop riot police moved secure area bulldozed barricade stoned catholic protester responded firing c gas rubber bullet area secured allowed orangeman march along road lined least fifty masked uniformed uda member uda men made way drumcree escorted orangeman back town along garvaghy road troop police force march passed peacefully however july three men shot dead portadown protestant paul beattie shot churchill park housing estate garvaghy road hour later uda member former police officer entered mccabes bar shot catholic pubowner jack mccabe protestant customer william cochrane day tight security orangeman marched along obins street time corcrain orange hall town centre july catholic civilian felix hughes kidnapped beaten tortured shot dead uda protestant area town longtime member st patrick accordion band based obins street later month provisional irish republican army ira detonated bomb woodhouse street loyalist bombed catholic church obins street area also gun battle involving ira uda security force uda involvement dispute made lasting impression portadowns catholic irish nationalist ira warned uda would allowed repeat action saint patrick day saint patrick accordion band local catholic marching band given permission parade twomile circuit mainly catholic area however small part twomile route yard park road lined protestantowned house arnold hatch town ulster unionist party mayor demanded march banned police let go ahead hatch small group loyalist staged sitdown protest park road police forced band turn around evening band tried march route although protester gone police stopped band confrontation police resident following incident portadown catholic boosted campaign ban orange march obins street social democratic labour party sdlp politician bríd rodgers described incident pivotal escalation parade dispute first time band given permission march route following highprofile campaign backed bríd rogers saw letter posted senior politician britain republic ireland united state growing cooperation ireland united kingdom developing became angloirish agreement provided context ruc relenting issue although condition band complete route predominantly catholic area without displaying irish tricolour accompanying supporter frustration catholic resident ban amplified ruc facilitating orange order march area every year resident complained time obins street cleaned local council week twelfth july ruc would order resident remove car street give loyalist marcher unobstructed passage resident reportedly confined home curfewstyle duration parade anger intensified way band especially drummer intensified playing passed parochial house local priest lived orangeman supporter allegedly breaking away parade urinate wall presence overwhelmingly protestant ulster defence regiment udr exacerbated tension resident claimed udr soldier verbally physically assaulted member catholic community particularly way mass – shortly drumcree parade july hundred resident staged sitdown protest obins street present eunice kennedy shriver sister former u president john f kennedy among orangeman unionist politician martin smyth orange grand master harold mccusker george seawright riot police armed baton forcefully removed protester allowed march continue least one man beaten unconscious police many arrested whole length garvaghy road lined british army police armoured vehicle march return leg one point stone thrown marcher orangeman injured police announced july march would rerouted away obins street july eight orange lodge hundred loyalist bandsman met corcrain orange hall tried march obins street town centre blocked police hundred loyalist gathered end obins street attacked police line several hour clash resumed following evening loyalist attacked police ball bearing fired slingshot twoday clash least police officer rioter injured people arrested including two ulster defence regiment soldier catholicowned home business attacked police erected barrier end obins street july resident catholic district formed group called people injustice later renamed drumcree faith justice group dfjg quickly became main group representing resident dfjg sought explain orangeman resident felt march improve crosscommunity relation organized peaceful protest issued newsletter held talk police also tried unsuccessfully hold talk orangeman one key figure group jesuit priest one sunday sermon portadown suggested anyone voted sinn féin consider excommunicated apprentice boy derry protestant fraternity similar orange order planned march along garvaghy road town centre afternoon april easter monday march police decided ban march believed loyalist paramilitary planning hijack evening car loudspeaker toured protestant area summoned people gather town centre contest ban least loyalist gathered town centre forced way past small group police began marching along garvaghy road among ian paisley leader democratic unionist party free presbyterian church resident claimed marcher carrying gun known member police udr marcher attacked house along route resident claimed police little nothing stop followed rioting resident police resident set barricade fear attack feeling among local police mutinied refused enforce ban afternoon apprentice boy band tried enter town centre planned march police blocked fierce riot erupted negotiation band allowed march town centre restriction however loyalist attacked police sealed obins street one loyalist keith white shot face plastic bullet died hospital april police decided drumcree sunday parade would allowed along obins street restriction july parade would rerouted july estimated soldier police deployed town drumcree parade police said orange order allowed known troublemaker take part march contrary prior agreement among george seawright unionist politician ulster volunteer force uvf member proposed burning catholic oven march entered catholic district police seized seawright others orangeman attacked police journalist catholic priest assaulted loyalist drumcree police land rover overturned catholic youth also threw missile police marcher least officer injured july march town centre blocked obins street second year instead police escorted march along garvaghy road without band although violence garvaghy road loyalist later rioted police town centre tried smash barrier leading obins street public order act repealed public order northern ireland order removed special status traditional parade meant orange march effectively banned obins street indefinitely july march rerouted soldier police sent keep order orangeman believed sacrificing obins street leg meant would guaranteed garvaghy road leg although garvaghy road leg caused trouble less populated obins street time june drumcree faith justice group dfjg—the group representing catholicirish nationalist residents—planned march town centre highlight saw doublestandards police handling nationalist loyalist parade asked permission police saying would marcher would carry flag banner denied permission although year passed without serious conflict drumcree parade side remained unhappy situation orangeman took new route year continued apply march along obins street meanwhile resident garvaghy road surrounding catholic district see map opposed saw triumphalist orange march area made opposition known tenant association represented housing estate drumcree faith justice group dfjg local politician survey people living garvaghy road found orange march area provisional ira loyalist paramilitary group called ceasefires mids population portadown protestant catholic three orange hall town estimated protestantloyalist march summer may garvaghy road resident coalition grrc formed comprising representative dfjg tenant association main goal divert orange march away garvaghy road peaceful mean held peaceful protest petitioned police government minister tried draw medium attention dispute grrc held regular public meeting resident usually representative committee one time according one member joanne tennyson although grrc could speak anyone wanted end day noone committee right say would anything community agree whole purpose holding public meeting grrcs first secretary father eamon stack jesuit priest dfjg member lived area since stack emphasized grrc nonsectarian connected political party coalition chairman would remain joint spokesman july first chairman grrc malachy trainor stepped week following threat loyalist paramilitary killed two brother republican activist mother replaced brendan mckenna also known breandán mac cionnaith former republican militant jailed six year part bomb attack portadown royal british legion hall david trimble local unionist mp cited mckennas presence reason refusing dealing grrc sunday july orangeman marched drumcree church held church service began marching towards garvaghy road however hundred catholic resident holding sitdown protest garvaghy road block march although march legal protest police stopped march continuing orangeman refused take another route announcing would stay drumcree allowed continue orangeman refused negotiate resident group mediation network called upon intercede police local politician also involved trying resolve deadlock meanwhile orangeman supporter gathered drumcree engaged standoff police standoff loyalist continuously threw missile police tried break police blockade officer responded firing plastic bullet support orangeman loyalist blocked numerous road across northern ireland sealed port larne violence protestant area evening monday july ian paisley democratic unionist party leader david trimble soon ulster unionist party leader held rally drumcree afterwards gathered number orangeman tried push police line taken away officer morning tuesday july compromise reached orangeman would allowed march along garvaghy road condition silently without accompanying band ronnie flanagan deputy chief constable police told grrc resident peacefully remove road angry scene police protester could worsen ormeau marching dispute even destabilise ceasefires grrc chairman breandán mac cionnaith asked protester clear road heckled refused flanagan told would better chance protester moving knew would march next year flanagan replied question march going consent community resident persuaded clear road confirmed mediation network orangeman marched along road paisley trimble head march reached end garvaghy road paisley trimble held hand air appeared gesture triumph trimble claim took paisley hand prevent dup leader taking medium attention side deeply unhappy event july resident angered parade gone ahead saw unionist triumphalism orangeman supporter angered parade held illegal protest orangeman formed group called spirit drumcree sod defend right march sod meeting belfast ulster hall one platform speaker said applause sectarian mean belong particular sect organisation belong orange institution bigot mean look people belong thats im im sectarian bigot proud saturday july chief constable sir hugh annesley stated parade would banned garvaghy road ruc acknowledged could result high number orangeman laying siege portadown police checkpoint barricade set route catholic area sunday july march blocked police barricade drumcree least orangeman loyalist supporter began another standoff afternoon orange grand master martin smyth arrived drumcree announced could compromise next three day bus full orangeman supporter arrived portadown bringing traffic standstill wednesday night number orangeman loyalist drumcree risen pelted police missile tried break blockade police responded plastic bullet loyalist brought armourplated bulldozer drumcree threatening storm police line throughout northern ireland loyalist blocked hundred road clashed police attacked intimidated catholic many town village blockaded either completely much daytime several catholic family forced flee home belfast due loyalist intimidation human right watch said police failed remove illegal roadblock abandoned traditional policing function area loyalist also attacked home police officer mainly duty drumcree thousand extra british troop sent northern ireland bringing total number troop deployed night july catholic taxidriver michael mcgoldrick shot dead near lurgan mid ulster brigade ulster volunteer force uvf loyalist paramilitary group believed killing ordered brigade leader billy wright portadown wright frequently seen drumcree company harold gracey head portadown orange lodge gracey thanked wright role supporting orangeman wright also held meeting david trimble leader uup member brigade smuggled homemade weaponry drumcree apparently unhindered orangeman allegedly brigade also plan drive petrol tanker garvaghy area blow wednesday july police reported previous four day loyalist protest attack police leaving police injured plastic bullet fired police civilian injured incident intimidation arrest made shortly noon thursday july chief constable reversed decision allowed orangeman march along garvaghy road resident group consulted rioting erupted police armoured vehicle flooded garvaghy area batoned hundred protester garvaghy road orangeman marched road resident hemmed estate riot police outrage among catholicnationalist community believed police surrendered loyalist violence threat article irish news concluded police impose rule law orange order loyalist chief constable said believed situation could longer contained claimed crowd drumcree expected rise night would broken defence attacked catholic area nationalist argued police nothing stop thousand loyalist gathering rioting erupted catholicnationalist area lurgan armagh belfast derry derry protester seriously injured one dermot mcshane died runover british army armoured vehicle inquest later ruled private daniel moran driver follow proper military procedure rioting worst derry trouble rioting continued throughout week time police fired plastic bullet directed nationalist committee administration justice caj sent member observe situation condemned completely indiscriminate use plastic bullet human right watch also accused police using excessive force leader sinn féin sdlp stated nationalist completely lost faith ruc impartial police force protest sdlp resigned seat northern ireland forum support grew sinn féin ira august billy wright portadown unit uvf stood uvf leadership breaking ceasefire uvf warned wright leave northern ireland ignored warning large rally held portadown support harold gracey head portadown orange lodge william mccrea dup politician attended rally made speech support wright along portadown unit wright formed splinter group called loyalist volunteer force lvf following event july many catholic nationalist began boycotting business run orangeman involved standoff boycott particularly affected protestantowned business catholicmajority town county armagh tyrone commenting crisis northern ireland office official said constraint parade aroused atavistic response unionist community recognised lost dominance northern ireland many nationalist handling parade issue acid test british government resolve create ni equitable society may local catholic robert hamill kicked death gang loyalist portadowns main street friend attacked walking home week july march secretary state mo mowlam privately decided let march proceed along garvaghy road however day leading march insisted decision made garvaghy road resident applied hold festival day march banned police local woman set peace camp along garvaghy road thursday july loyalist volunteer force lvf threatened kill catholic civilian march blocked ulster unionist party threatened withdraw northern ireland peace process following day sixty family evacuated home garvaghy road loyalist bomb threat day leading march thousand british troop flown northern ireland less twelve hour sunday july march authority still say whether would blocked morning police soldier swept catholic area armoured vehicle took control garvaghy road resident managed get road stage sitdown protest forcefully removed police pelted stone petrol bomb pushed resident back road rosemary nelson—a human right lawyer grrcs legal advisor—was physically verbally abused police officer point onward resident prevented leaving housing estate accessing garvaghy road resident also unable reach catholic church local priest held openair mass front line soldier armoured personnel carrier chief constable said allowed march go ahead threat catholic civilian loyalist paramilitary orangeman marched along garvaghy road noon day march passed security force began withdrawing area severe rioting began attacked hundred nationalist stone brick petrol bomb security force fired plastic bullet people taken hospital news portadown emerged violence erupted several nationalist area northern ireland provisional ira launched numerous gun bomb attack security force nationalist also attacked security force blocked road burning vehicle protest police orange march number orange hall burnt widespread violence lasted july orange order decided unilaterally reroute cancel several march end violence civilian police officer injured people arrested attack security force petrol bomb thrown hijacking police fired plastic bullet sinn féin leader gerry adam told rté journalist party involvement disputeask activist north drumcree happen accident tell three year work lower ormeau road portadown part fermanagh newry armagh bellaghy derry three year work went creating situation fair play people put work type scene change focus develop exploit july grrc member breandán mac cionnaith replaced eamon stack group spokesman mac cionnaith spent time prison ira bomb attack portadowns royal british legion hall last time orange order allowed march garvaghy road early public procession act passed establishing parade commission make decision contentious march parade commission decided ban march garvaghy road friday july soldier police deployed portadown soldier built large barricade made steel concrete barbed wire across road leading catholic area field drumcree church catholic area dug trench fourteen foot wide lined row barbed wire soldier also occupied catholic drumcree college st john baptist primary school property near barricade sunday july orangeman marched drumcree church stated would remain allowed proceed orangeman loyalist arrived drumcree across northern ireland loyalist group calling portadown action command issued statement readas midnight friday july driver vehicle supplying good kind gavaghy road summarily executed next ten day sustained attack security force drumcree attempt break blockade july attacked gunfire homemade bomb responded plastic bullet loyalist protest violence across northern ireland response ban loyalist blocked road attacked security force well catholic home business school church july mainly catholic village dunloy besieged orangeman county antrim grand lodge said member taken position held village july eight homemade bomb thrown catholic home collingwood area lurgan police recorded public order incident throughout northern ireland including attack security force left police office injured petrol bomb thrown homemade bomb thrown shooting incident plastic bullet fired security force house building attacked vast majority owned catholic vehicle attacked vehicle hijacked people arrested sunday july jason aged mark aged richard quinn aged killed home petrol bombed loyalist boy mother catholic home mainlyprotestant part ballymoney following murder william bingham county grand chaplain armagh member orange order negotiating team said walking garvaghy road would hollow victory would shadow three coffin little boy wouldnt even know orange order said order lost control situation road worth life however later apologized implying order responsible death ian paisley claimed petrol bombing quinn home unrelated drumcree dispute think press wait day find little relationship death happened drumcree ira carried far worse murder ballymoney one said call crime received acceptable democratic politician murder provoked widespread anger call order end protest drumcree although number protester drumcree dropped considerably portadown lodge voted unanimously continue standoff wednesday july police began search operation field drumcree number loyalist weapon found including homemade machine gun spent live ammunition explosive device two crossbow dozen homemade explosive arrow protest parade commission ban garvaghy road march continued throughout september loyalist crowd several hundred staged demonstration portadown town centre carrying placard proclaiming taigs member assembled crowd assaulted shouted abuse catholic vicinity dozen family carrying weekend shopping many child fled one eyewitness town centre two young son recalled like animal hatred eye woman child young mine calling u fenian bastard shortly pm catholicowned business gutted petrolbomb attack others damaged men openly armed baseball bat chain crowbar – confrontation corcrain road area portadown loyalist threw pipe bomb packed explosive ammunition shotgun pellet line ruc officer shielding catholic enclave two police officer seriously injured one yearold constable frank oreilly catholicborn practicing presbyterian took full force blast shattering riot shield crowd reportedly cheered officer taken hospital oreilly lost eye shrapnel embedded skull spent five week critical condition royal victoria hospital succumbing injury october – year july orange order grrc tried resolve dispute proximity talk using gobetweens orangeman refused talk directly grrc senior portadown orangeman claim promised parade garvaghy road later year could control thing traditional parading date throughout year orangeman supporter held score protest rally march portadown following one protest september catholic ruc officer killed blast bomb thrown loyalist rioter renegade loyalist group orange volunteer also began carrying gun bomb attack catholic irish nationalist march parade commission said yearly march would banned garvaghy road following day grrcs legal advisor rosemary nelson assassinated lurgan loyalist attached bomb car april portadown loyalist threatened picket st john catholic church top garvaghy road may junior orange march passed near garvaghy road clash following march police officer four civilian hurt police fired plastic bullet clash month dup politician orangeman paul berry said orangeman would stopped marching garvaghy road matter taking law hand going threat june loyalist paramilitary hurled blast bomb window house corcrain estate portadown elizabeth oneill yearold protestant married catholic attempted throw device outside exploded hand killing instantly june orangeman began tenday long march derry drumcree protest ban drumcree march took place sunday july orangeman marched drumcree met several thousand supporter security force blocked road leading catholic area large steel concrete barbed wire barricade row barbed wire also stretched across field drumcree loyalist threw missile police soldier less violence year july police portadown arrested four belfast loyalist finding pickaxe handle wire cutter petrol combat clothing car later day six officer hurt clash loyalist near garvaghy road barricade eventually removed july july drunken loyalist wielding ak handgun crossed interface craigwell avenue street catholicowned house cocking rifle resident wrestled ground disarmed shot wounded loyalist arrested later convicted attempted murder august breeze block thrown window house street also year grrc published book detailing history orange parade area book called garvaghy community siege orange order membership portadown district risen began catastrophic slump april–june april newspaper reported portadown orangeman threatened british prime minister tony blair saying year march banned garvaghy road would prove bloody sunday following month almost masked loyalist attacked catholic home craigwell avenue assembling carlton street orange hall allegedly police land rover nearby intervene may catholic area sealedoff police junior orange parade could march along lower end garvaghy road march included men paramilitary uniform may childrens crosscommunity concert st john catholic church disrupted portadown orangeman beating lambeg drum allegedly trying drown present concert secretary state peter mandelson uup leader orangeman david trimble concert teacher parent child guest held reception protestant portadown college strong loyalist mob hurled missile sectarian abuse preventing family leaving college security force deployed disperse mob make arrest june st john catholic church set fire arsonist june catholic worker dennys factory portadown walkedout placard carrying sectarian slogan erected near main entrance week loyalist thrown missile catholic leaving factory placard removed shortly later month loyalist sent death threat worker reinforcing security barrier peace line along corcrain road work stopped leaving catholic area vulnerable attack july july revealed member neonazi group combat travelling england join orangeman drumcree given shelter lvf member portadown tandragee month portadown orangeman ivan hewitt sported neonazi tattoo warned tv documentary may time loyalist bring war britain drumcree march took place sunday july banned garvaghy road catholic area sealed barricade thousand loyalist gathered drumcree orange district master harold gracey called protest across northern ireland prominent leader protester mark harbinson stoneyford orangeman associated paramilitary orange volunteer proclaimed war begin today monday july crowd fifty loyalist led uda commander johnny adair appeared drumcree banner bearing shankill road uff ulster freedom fighter corcrain estate lvf gunman fired volley shot air adair cheering crowd tuesday july security force used water cannon loyalist rioter drumcree barricade first deployment northern ireland year interview july harold gracey refused condemn violence linked protest saying gerry adam doesnt condemn violence ill july police warned loyalist threatened kill catholic day orangeman allowed march garvaghy road two day later group loyalist ordered shop portadown town centre shut tried march garvaghy road end held back police night police officer hurt clash loyalist july call portadown orangeman another day widespread protest went unheeded armagh grand lodge refused support call business remained open several road blocked short time security barrier removed soldier returned barrack according ruc period july july across northern ireland – attack security force including thirteen shooting ruc officer soldier injured petrol bombing case criminal damage home case criminal damage building case criminal damage vehicle hijacking since july orangeman applied march traditional route every sunday year – outward leg along obins street banned since return leg along garvaghy road also held small protest drumcree church every sunday proposal rejected parade commission february loyalist held protest lower garvaghy road runup day standoff grrc said people masked armed club intimidated people living garvaghy road attacked car passenger inside violence may may orangeman supporter tried march garvaghy road stopped police scuffle orangeman police district master harold gracey drew controversy said police officer know come vast majority come protestant community high time supported protestant people may clash loyalist nationalist woodhouse street may clash nationalist police junior orange march lower garvaghy road four day july drumcree march supporter member uda rallied drumcree portadown orange lodge said powerless stop militant gathering said could held responsible action nevertheless david jones lodge spokesman said welcomed support bríd rodgers local sdlp politician called example orangemens double standard said orangeman would speak grrc mac cionnaiths terrorist past yet quite happy associate people terrorist present march passed peacefully heavy security presence since drumcree relatively calm outside support fading portadown lodge campaign violence waning mac cionnaith said belief conflict essentially orange order continues campaign right march garvaghy road late july portadown orange district lol submitted application march garvaghy road allireland senior football championship final armagh compete stating parade would bring least impact majority community live either away croke park club pub home sic orange volunteer trouble portadown parade commission determination relation drumcree church parade july dominic bryan drumcree introduction parade dispute book orange parade politics ritual tradition control p mulholland drumcree struggle recognition irish journal sociology vol susan mckay portadown bitter harvest book northern protestant unsettled people ryder chris kearney vincent drumcree orange order last stand london methuen conflict archive internet cain development drumcree – meehan niall rock hard gospel orange order church ireland jack lane ed affair bishop cork aubane website organisation directly involved dispute archived version garvaghy road resident coalition website portadown district lol parade commission