GARVAGHY ROAD RESIDENTS COALITION
c/o 3, Ashgrove Road

Portadown

Co.Armagh, Ireland

Phone/Fax: +44 (028) 38 392898

PRESS RELEASE - July 2, 2003

TRIMBLE'S COMMENTS CRITICISED

The Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition has criticised comments by Unionist Party leader, David Trimble, in relation to the controversial Drumcree Orange march.

A GRRC spokesperson said, "David Trimble's recent comments calling for the Parades Commission to be scrapped, followed by his allegations that GRRC has refused to enter into dialogue, are unhelpful and spurious.

"As the local MP, Mr. Trimble has consistently refused to act in the best interests of all his constituents in relation to this issue. Mindful of the fact that he used the Drumcree issue to gain the leadership of the Unionist Party several years ago, his recent public statements should be seen as part of the Trimble campaign to retain that leadership.

"During the Brian Currin process which lasted from April 2000 until the end of 2001, it was apparent to everyone that Mr. Trimble was one of several public figures to whom Brian Currin referred when Currin issued a statement criticising unhelpful interventions which were designed to undermine that process. At the closure of that process, Brian Currin was also highly critical of the politicisation of the Drumcree issue by Unionists, particularly at the time of the Weston Park talks.

"Comments by Mr. Trimble at this time are clearly not designed to defuse this issue but to heighten tension and suspicion for his own self-serving purposes."