GARVAGHY ROAD RESIDENTS COALITION
Portadown
Co. Armagh, Ireland
Phone/Fax: Int.Code +44 (0)1762 392898
E-Mail Garvaghy @ aol.com
13:00 Local Time
UPDATE FROM THE GARVAGHY ROAD
Upwards of 6000 Orangemen and supporters gathered around the Drumcree church and are now forming up to march up to the Drumcree road, now that the service has concluded. Thousands of those gathered stood and waited as far as 800-1000 yards away from the church, not even participating in the service that is meant to be the crux of today's event for the Orangemen. All week supporters of the parade have insisted that the purpose for the day was to attend the service with the community, but only a small portion of the Orange crowd went near the church.
On the march to the church, the first half of the parade were bedecked Orangemen in suits, bowlers and sashes. But the second half of the crowd were clothed in jeans and casual clothing, not indicating any Orange Order membership among them. As the parade passed St. John's church the participants danced and jumped up and down in mock stomping of Robert Hamill's head and body. They called out taunts celebrating his murder and saying "what about Robert Hamill?" and laughing. (Robert Hamill, an innocent Catholic man, was stomped and bludgeoned to death last year by a gang of loyalists in the Portadown city centre).
As of 13:00, Orangemen are both marching towards the police barricades at the fields and back up towards the Drumcree Road.
Observers are spread throughout the community and residents are gathered at vantage points where they can watch the crowds at the church. Most are extremely apprehensive and uncertain that the government, police and military will carry through their promise to uphold the Parades Commission decision. Many are gathered in the community centre watching the news as it happens. Despite being the community under seige, they know no more about the situation than the rest of the world.