GARVAGHY ROAD RESIDENTS COALITION
Portadown
Co. Armagh, Ireland
Phone/Fax: Int.Code +44 (0)1762 392898
E-Mail Garvaghy @ aol.com
GARVAGHY ROAD RESIDENTS UPDATE
22:45 Local Time
Monday remained relatively quiet, as residents attempted to go about their daily business. Many were worried at the Parades Commission announcement that the Lower Ormeau Road march would be forced through. There are fears that this will give further impetus to the Orangemen to try and force their way through the Garvaghy Road.
As darkness approaches, activity has increased. Along with constant helicopters flying over and hovering above the community, the Orangemen (most of whom left their encampment to go to work during the day) have all returned, with the numbers swelling to the thousands now. For the last six hours they have been playing their pipes and beating their drums, in reminiscent actions of 1996. Despite the fact that it is an illegal gathering there outside the Drumcree church, the Orangemen and their supporters are allowed free travel in and out, and they are enjoying chipper vans and marquees.
Also in a disturbing development, the Ballynafeigh Orange Lodge has joined the Drumcree standoff. This is the Lodge that was just given permission to march the Lower Ormeau. The connections are all too familiar to the nationalist residents here. The RUC phoned the local taxi service to tell them that they'd received a threat from the LVF against the taxi drivers, and so the service has shut down. All bus and rail service across the north has also been halted.
Less than a mile from the Orangemen, inside the ring of steel that continues to surround the Garvaghy Road community, tension is palpable. People are extremely apprehensive as darkness falls, and many are much more alert than they were during the day. Hope is a valuable commodity this evening.