N. IRELAND: POLICE BLOCK PROTESTANTS MARCH THROUGH PORTADOWN

(7 Jul 1996) English/Nat
More than two thousand police have prevented Protestant marchers from marching along through the main Catholic neighbourhood of Portadown in Northern Ireland , Sunday.
About two thousand marchers, members of the Protestant Orange Order, attended a church service before attempting to take their traditional route through Portadown.
A tense stand off developed as the police blocked the marchers who vowed to mobilise thousands of other Orangemen throughout the province to support them.
Last years march in the area led to three days of clashes with police.
Thousands of soldiers and police officers surrounded the area of Drumcree in Northern Ireland as hundreds of Orange Order supporters moved into the town for their annual march.
The Orange Order Parade traditionally runs along the Garvaghy Road, a nationalist area of Portadown, 30 miles south of Belfast.
The route on the way to the church service in Drumcree but the route away from the church was banned after Catholics protested.
A compromise on the march could not be reached, so a tense stand off has begun with the Orange Men refusing to back down.
SOUNDBITE( English)
" We are of the opinion that this is a politically motivated decision taken to appease republicanism. It is a dangerous concession to those who threaten . It is a dangerous concession to those who threaten violence to achieve their ends. As an organisation we are committed to civil and religious liberty. Therefore in all conscience we cannot accept any rerouting and we demand the restoration if our rights. We are determined to stand fast for our faith and our future."
SUPERCAPTION: HAROLD GRACEY, Portadown Orange Lodge]
The leader of the Ulster Unionist Party,David Trimble MP, has warned the marches could spark the beginning of a new wave of violence from the IRA.
SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH)
"
We know that the IRA for months now have been looking for an opportunity to resume violence in Northern Ireland. And that we believe that they think they can use this
situation to restart their campaign in Northern Ireland, and the Chief Constable through his folly and shortsightedness is playing into their hands."
SUPERCAPTION DAVID TRIMBLE ,Leader, Ulster Unionists]
Last years march led to a three day standoff which ended in clashes between Unionists and the police. Both sides say they are keen to avoid a repetition.
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[@urbanastro4701]

The video title should be "Police block Laurel and Hardy tribute act march through Portadown"

[@stephenowens354]

Trimble voted against civil partnerships but now SUPPORTS GAY MARRIAGE after his daughter married a ROMAN CATHLIC WOMAN you couldn't make it up !!!

[@binboy4034]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@donaldstewart9827]

They marched down "the Queen's highway" and Her Majesty's armed forces made them walk back up "the Queen's highway" 😂😂😂

[@suzuki-qo4rm]

Bootlickers doing what they do best 😂

[@robertshaw9990]

Don't go where you are not wanted. Simple.

[@seansweeney8911]

Have we a guilty Protestant conscience

[@Bossman64197]

Well then the nationalists should get out

[@duncanstirling5206]

@@Bossman64197 Planters out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Go back to England and worship your English King.

[@DafXF-mb4np]

Trimble tryn to act the bad ass cause the DUP were gaining ground on UUP . What was he afraid of , that the UUP would end up with no Westminster seats 20 years later or something lol .

[@Jim54_]

How Protestants and Catholics, two groups of people who worship the same god, same Jesus and use the same bible, don’t get on, just baffles the mind

[@edsmith4995]

Their god works in mysterious ways, allegedly.

[@Pioushira]

I would imagine it's not so much the " religion " part of it but more what each group values country wise. One part wanted an Irish independence( catholics ). The other where British loyalists essentially. ( protestants ). If they both were for one version of how they wanted Ireland to be. Then the tensions would not be nearly as bad

[@oliver69cork46]

It's not religion that divides its their national identity

[@ieat10kittens94]

@@oliver69cork46 people around here are just goofy

[@margaret3367]

It is not as simple as you make it out to be. Read the history of Ireland and you may or may become more enlightened. You should start with Henry VIII, he was the idiot who introduced the Act of Supremacy which made him the Head of the Church, the origin of Protestantism. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR RESEARCH.

[@wayneabel5421]

Outrageous

[@jackcack8709]

Senior Catholic civil servants in Dublin had contacts with the Vatican and Tony Blair , and he was assured that his conversion to Catholicism would be seamless once he left office , which is what transpired . This was on condition that the prods were banned from the Garvahey road in 1998 . They have been banned for 23 years now

[@duncanstirling5206]

Grow up FFS. This is 2022 and not the 17th century and people don't listen to that shit anymore. Do you really think that the Pope gives a flying F about "Garvahey" road or has ever heard of Portadown?

[@wayneabel5421]

Thats shocking

[@SirMrShanks]

Want to list your sources there bud? Sounds like a load of pish

[@donaldstewart9827]

Don't talk stupid, next thing you will be repeating one of the wee stories from the dark and dank orange halls "The Pope is on his way with an army to make us all say the rosary until our noses bleed" 😂😂😂😂

[@f.b508]

Haha what a load of crap

[@michaelahern6821]

Music is diabolical....

[@ericmourinho9589]

Ha back up the rd with ya

[@DJ-db1gr]

Does the bible not teach about forgivness, turn the other cheek or love thy neighbour?????? Nothing but hypocrites !!! Would they welcome a Hibernian march "parading" down the "kings" highway???? While the prods were drinking sinn fein were thinking........

[@sararyan1255]

🍊💩🍼🥴💉

[@hoopy6781]

Here come the dafties.