26 June 1997 Edition

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Masses cancelled

By Mick Naughton.

The pressure of 42 weeks of loyalist protest at Our Lady's chapel in Harryville has resulted in parish priest, Father Sean Connolly, cancelling Saturday evening services for the summer.

Despite the suspension, however, loyalists are thought to be ready to move their protest to another church.

Significantly, the priests were told last week by the RUC that with the Twelfth falling on a Saturday they could not guarantee the parishioners' security. This prompted Fr Connolly to switch the evening service to Harryville's sister church, All Saints, on the Broughshane Road, until September at least. It is likely that either this or another nearby Catholic church will fall prey to the loyalists given that a major parade is planned in the Ballymena area on the Twelfth.

``Understandable,'' was how Sinn Féin National Chairperson Mitchel McLaughlin described the decision to abandon the weekly church services. ``Given the heightened tension and threats which are being directed at that congregation as we move closer to Drumcree 3, it is an indictment of the Unionist leaders who failed to confront their own people and demand an end to this disgraceful event. It is also evidence of the inability of the RUC to face up to the harsh reality of Orange intimidation.''

 


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