11 February 1999 Edition
Derry support for Garvaghy residents
By Fra Magee
A large turnout at a public meeting in Derry on Sunday night organised in support of Garvaghy Road residents heard Breandán MacCionnaith accuse the media of swallowing the RUC version of events there.
The nationalist enclave in Portadown, under siege since July last year, has been subjected to constant intimidation, threat and violence as the Orange Order and its supporters stage nightly incursions into the area.
The meeting, organised by the Bogside Residents Association in the Pilot's Row centre, decided to form a support group to give practical help to Garvaghy residents in the coming months.
Speaking at the meeting Garvaghy residents spokesperson Breandan MacCionnaith said, ``for over 200 days we have been faced with more than 150 illegal demonstrations. We have witnessed the daily expulsion of Catholics from the town centre and on the day of President Clinton's visit two shops were bombed by loyalists. All this happens to a backdrop of complete silence.''
He continued, ``the mainstream media refuse to acknowledge anything other than the RUC version of events, which is taken word for word. Last week a mob of 300 went on the rampage, but according to the RUC loyalists acted responsibly and helped calm things down.
``A conspiracy of silence is being adopted in an attempt to force nationalists to give in to demands of loyalists. The constant threat of violence is being ignored by the various political parties, church leaders and the NIO.
``The intimidation of nationalists in Garvaghy Road is tolerated because it is the constituency of David Trimble. He created Drumcree, he got the leadership because of it and he will not criticise the behaviour of Orangemen. Indeed the only criticism coming from him is directed at the Parades Commission, because for once a ruling was made in favour of nationalists. We will not be coerced by the likes of David Trimble.''
A large turnout at a public meeting in Derry on Sunday night organised in support of Garvaghy Road residents heard Breandán MacCionnaith accuse the media of swallowing the RUC version of events there.
The nationalist enclave in Portadown, under siege since July last year, has been subjected to constant intimidation, threat and violence as the Orange Order and its supporters stage nightly incursions into the area.
The meeting, organised by the Bogside Residents Association in the Pilot's Row centre, decided to form a support group to give practical help to Garvaghy residents in the coming months.
Speaking at the meeting Garvaghy residents spokesperson Breandan MacCionnaith said, ``for over 200 days we have been faced with more than 150 illegal demonstrations. We have witnessed the daily expulsion of Catholics from the town centre and on the day of President Clinton's visit two shops were bombed by loyalists. All this happens to a backdrop of complete silence.''
He continued, ``the mainstream media refuse to acknowledge anything other than the RUC version of events, which is taken word for word. Last week a mob of 300 went on the rampage, but according to the RUC loyalists acted responsibly and helped calm things down.
``A conspiracy of silence is being adopted in an attempt to force nationalists to give in to demands of loyalists. The constant threat of violence is being ignored by the various political parties, church leaders and the NIO.
``The intimidation of nationalists in Garvaghy Road is tolerated because it is the constituency of David Trimble. He created Drumcree, he got the leadership because of it and he will not criticise the behaviour of Orangemen. Indeed the only criticism coming from him is directed at the Parades Commission, because for once a ruling was made in favour of nationalists. We will not be coerced by the likes of David Trimble.''