1 May 1997 Edition
Orange marches tension rising
The new British Government got a foretaste of the looming trouble from Orange marches at the weekend when again the RUC was forced to stop Apprentice Boys marchers and a handful of supporters from parading down the lower end of the Nationalist Ormeau Road.
At a so-called `Religious Ceremony' on the Ormeau Bridge, flanked by almost 100 RUC and rows of Armoured Landrovers, leading Orangeman, the Reverend William Hoey, called on the new British Government to ``blow away the enemies of Ulster and bring about the total destruction of these evil people in our society. You have the manpower and the fire power to deal with the situation.''
The Lower Ormeau Concerned Community condemned the prolonged blockade of the Ormeau Road by the Orange Order and again invited the Order to sit down with them and discuss the problems which exist in relation to parades on the Ormeau Road.
Meanwhile the Apprentice Boys in North Antrim have said they will march through the 100% Nationalist village of Dunloy later this month, possibly on 18 May. Notification has been given to the RUC and the march has been proposed despite no negotiations with local people. A spokesperson for the Dunloy Residents Association has asked for Orange Order leaders to enter into dialogue so that accommodation can be found. ``The last time the Apprentice Boys tried to parade through Dunloy, in August last year, a riot erupted after the RUC blocked their path,'' said the resident.
At a so-called `Religious Ceremony' on the Ormeau Bridge, flanked by almost 100 RUC and rows of Armoured Landrovers, leading Orangeman, the Reverend William Hoey, called on the new British Government to ``blow away the enemies of Ulster and bring about the total destruction of these evil people in our society. You have the manpower and the fire power to deal with the situation.''
The Lower Ormeau Concerned Community condemned the prolonged blockade of the Ormeau Road by the Orange Order and again invited the Order to sit down with them and discuss the problems which exist in relation to parades on the Ormeau Road.
Meanwhile the Apprentice Boys in North Antrim have said they will march through the 100% Nationalist village of Dunloy later this month, possibly on 18 May. Notification has been given to the RUC and the march has been proposed despite no negotiations with local people. A spokesperson for the Dunloy Residents Association has asked for Orange Order leaders to enter into dialogue so that accommodation can be found. ``The last time the Apprentice Boys tried to parade through Dunloy, in August last year, a riot erupted after the RUC blocked their path,'' said the resident.