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Select Committee on Northern Ireland Affairs Minutes of Evidence

APPENDIX 2

THE DRUMCREE CONFLICT

ORIGINS

Orange perspective:

  1.  Late 1970s: unionists blocked a nationalist parade in Portadown on St Patrick's Day.

  2.  1985 — 1986: Obins Street/the Tunnel confrontations.

  3.  Brian Lennon S J and Drumcree Faith & Justice Group.

Residents' perspective:

  The problem is as old as the Orange Order.

1995—DRUMCREE ONE

Event: Stand-off—2+ days.

Outcome: Accommodation (disputed) with an agreed parade.
Parties:
  1.  Orange:
    (i)  Portadown District (H Gracey)
    (ii)  David Trimble
    (iii)  Jeffrey Donaldson
    (iv)  Ian Paisley 		Objective:
To get the parade down the road
  2.  Loyalist paramilitaries: especially Billy Wright.
  3.  GRRC: An end to parades on the Garvaghy Road.
  4.  Brid Rodgers
  5.  RUC.
    (i)  ACC Hall.
    (ii)  Divisional Commander Houston.
    (iii)  Acting DCC Flanagan.

Third Parties:

  The Mediation Network.

Observations about Conflict Intervention:

    —  Crisis Intervention.
    —  Method: Intermediation.
    —  Mediators engaged GRRC, RUC, unionist politicians and a small number of Orangemen.
    —  Portadown District largely un-engaged.
    —  Mediators reliant on RUC for communication with Orange.
    —  Police agenda became decisive.
    —  Mediator's understanding with DCC Flanagan influenced the final protest.
    —  Only some on Orange side aware of undertakings.
    —  Accommodation  =  parade with respect.
1995-1996

WITHIN ORANGE ORDER:
    —  Determination to win "Drumcree Two".
    —  Strict discipline.
    —  Felt as if they were at war.
    —  Meticulous planning of large-scale protest.
    —  Suspicious of everyone.
    —  Non-Orange people marginalised.
    —  A belief in their capacity to control protest.

WITHIN RESIDENTS' SIDE:
    —  Resentment at D Trimble's and I Paisley's "victory jig".
    —  Resentment at Orange denials of an accommodation and refusal to talk.
    —  Distrust of RUC exacerbated by their denial of any commitment being given in 1995.
    —  Asked the Mediation Network to facilitate dialogue with the Orange Order.
    —  Public meetings on Garvaghy Road.
EVENTS ON THE GROUND:
    —  September: D Trimble elected UUP leader.
    —  Lack of progress in Peace Process.
    —  February, 1996: Canary Wharf bomb.
    —  Parades disputes elsewhere.
    —  Orange refusing GRRC requests for dialogue.
THIRD PARTIES:
    —  The Mediation Network unable to engage local Orangemen.

OBSERVATIONS ABOUT CONFLICT INTERVENTION:
    —  No mediation.
    —  No process.
1996—DRUMCREE TWO
Event: Stand-off—4+ days.

Outcome: Mass protest. Widespread violence. Michael McGoldrick murdered. RUC climb-down. Forced parade.
Parties:
  1.  Orange:
    (i)  County Armagh:  (D Watson & W Bingham)
    (ii)  Lord Cranbourne.
    (iii)  District (H Gracey).
    (iv)  Grand Lodge.
    (v)  The Orange Order membership.
    (vi)  Jeffrey Donaldson.
    (vii)  David Trimble.
    (viii)  Ian Paisley. 		Objective:

To get the parade down the road, with or without an accommodation.
  2.  Loyalist paramilitaries: especially Billy Wright.
  3.  GRRC: Objective:

To create equality of treatment for the Catholic community in Portadown and ensure equality of treatment under the law.
  4.  RUC:
    (i)  ACC Hall.
    (ii)  Div Commander Robinson.
    (iii)  DCC Flanagan.
  5.  Others:
    (i)  Brid Rodgers.
    (ii)  Local priests.
    (iii)  Cardinal Daly.
    (iv)  Mo Mowlam.

Third Parties:

    (i)  Sir Patrick Mayhew/John Steele, NIO.

    (ii)  Archbishop Eames.

Observations about Conflict Intervention:

    —  Archbishop Eames relied on his moral authority to bring people together.

    —  Face to face talks arranged at carpet factory, to be co-chaired by Cardinal Daly.

    —  Controversy over the participants.

    —  Both sides left feeling suspicious of Archbishop Eames.

    —  No structured mediation.

    —  Accommodation assumed to mean a parade with respect.

1996-1997

WITHIN ORANGE ORDER:

    —  Felt they'd won a great battle.

    —  Believed the right to march was restored.

    —  Believed the "war" was won.

    —  Others were anxious not to have a repeat of 96.

    —  County leaders (Watson & Bingham) now sought a parade with consensus, though without dialogue with GRRC.

    —  Autumn '96: Spirit of Drumcree formed.

    —  Early '97: Dunloy process led to a hardening within the Order against mediation.

    —  There was open division within Orange Order.

    —  Armagh County leaders sent an open letter to the people of Garvaghy Road.

WITHIN RESIDENTS' SIDE:

    —  GRRC instigating meetings with governments, politicians, churches, other authorities.

    —  Holding public meetings on Garvaghy Road.

    —  Asking the Orange Order for dialogue.

EVENTS ON THE GROUND:

    —  Oct '96: 12 year old Darren Murray (RC) knocked down and killed during confrontation with Protestants.

    —  Feb '97: Dunloy mediation process leads to hardening of Orange policy against mediation.

    —  Mar '97: Establishment of Parades Commission.

    —  May '97: Robert Hamill beaten to death by loyalists in Portadown; B Mac Cionnaith, J Duffy elected.

    —  May '97: Labour in Government: Mo Mowlam Secretary of State.

    —  June '97: Constables Graham and Johnston shot dead in Lurgan by IRA; Constable Taylor beaten to death by loyalists in Ballymoney.

Third Parties:

    —  Mo Mowlam (& John Steele, NIO).

    —  Archbishop Eames.

1997—DRUMCREE THREE

Observations about Conflict Intervention:

    —  Archbishop Eames ineffective now.

    —  May-June: Mo Mowlam being welcomed by residents but looked on with suspicion by Orange.

    —  Mowlam convenes Proximity Talks at Hillsborough.

    —  They had no structure, no agreed aim and little substance.

    —  No mediators involved.

    —  Later leaking of the Gameplan (NIO) document indicated this was a cosmetic exercise by Government.

Event: RUC/Army seizure of Garvaghy Road during night. Bloody clashes with residents. Open air Mass at Churchill Park.

Outcome: Forced parade, violent confrontation with Nationalists.
Parties:
  1.  Orange:
    (i)  County: D Watson & W Bingham.
    (ii)  District: D Jones & H Gracey.
    (iii)  Grand Lodge.
    (iv)  Spirit of Drumcree. 		Objective:
To get the parade down the road.
  2.  LVF:
  3.  GRRC: Objective:
To create equality of treatment for the Catholic community in Portadown and ensure equality of treatment under the law.
  4.  Others:
    (i)  Brid Rodgers.
    (ii)  Local priests.
    (iii)  Irish Government.
  5.  RUC:
    (i)  ACC Hall.
    (ii)  Div Commander Robinson.
    (iii)  CC Flanagan.

Third Parties:

None.

Observations About Conflict Intervention:

    —  No mediators.

    —  No mediation.

    —  No process.

1997-1998

WITHIN ORANGE ORDER:

    —  Orange disappointed with narrow brief of Parades Commission.

    —  No co-operation with Commission.

    —  District encouraged to take lead from here-on.

    —  W Bingham still favoured search for consensus. Failing that, a forced parade in 1998 again.

    —  Orange refusing dialogue with GRRC.

    —  Central Strategy Committee formed—eg D McNarry.

WITHIN RESIDENTS' SIDE:

    —  Greater international interest.

    —  Meetings with governments.

    —  Submissions to the Parades Commission.

    —  Public meetings in Portadown.

EVENTS ON GROUND:

    —  July 1997: IRA Ceasefire.

    —  Gameplan Document leaked.

    —  Political Talks Process moving up a gear.

    —  Feb 1998: Extensive damage from bomb in Portadown town centre.

    —  10 April 1998: Good Friday Agreement.

    —  April 1998: Adrian Lamph shot dead by loyalists in Portadown.

    —  May 1998: Referendums on Good Friday Agreement.

Third Parties:

    —  Parades Commission.

    —  Mo Mowlam.

Observations about Conflict Intervention:

    —  Alistair Graham associated with the Gameplan document.

    —  Orange still opposed to dialogue with GRRC.

    —  Orange opposition to mediation.

    —  No mediation throughout the year.

1998—DRUMCREE FOUR

Event: Stand-off—6+ days.

Outcome: Nights of violence at Drumcree. Deaths of Quinn children. Orange withdrawal, leaving token protest.
Parties:Objective:
  1.  Orange: To get the parade down the road.
    (i)  District (D Jones & H Gracey).
    (ii)  County.
    (iii)  Grand Lodge.
    (iv)  Spirit of Drumcree.
  2.  Loyalist paramilitaries.
  3.  Various unionist politicians.
  4.  GRRC: To create equality of treatment for the Catholic community in Portadown and ensure equality of treatment under the law.
  5.  Others:
    (i)  Brid Rodgers.
    (ii)  Seamus Mallon.
    (iii)  Sinn Fein.
    (iv)  Irish Government.
    (v)  Archbishop Brady.
  6.  RUC:
    (i)  ACC Craig.
    (ii)  Div Commander Donnan.
    (iii)  CC Flanagan.

Third Parties:

    (i)  Mo Mowlam.

    (ii)  Tony Blair — Prime Minister.

    (iii)  Jonathan Powell, Downing Street.

    (iv)  Roy Magee.

    (v)  Peter Quinn.

Observations about Conflict Intervention:

    —  Last minute negotiation process featuring Proximity Talks.

    —  No agreed objective, no agreed agenda, no structure.

    —  No mediation.

    —  No mediators involved.

    —  Both sides viewing each other as insincere.

1998-1999

WITHIN ORANGE ORDER:

    —  Increasing militancy.

    —  Protest parades to Drumcree.

    —  Protest rallies.

    —  Some brethren unhappy and withdrawing.

    —  Emergence of David Campbell; R Monteith.

    —  Expulsion of Joel Patten.

WITHIN RESIDENTS' SIDE:

    —  Worsening of relationship with RUC.

    —  A sense of being discriminated against by RUC and by the State.

    —  Public meetings organised by GRRC.

EVENTS ON GROUND:

    —  Stalled Peace Process.

    —  October 1998: Constable Frankie O'Reilly fatally wounded at Drumcree.

    —  Winter—Spring—Summer protests.

    —  Intimidation in Portadown.

    —  Catholics forced out of Craigwell Avenue interface.

    —  March—Rosemary Nelson murdered by Loyalists.

    —  June—Elizabeth O'Neill murdered by Loyalists.

    —  Catholic shops in Portadown bombed and picketed.

    —  Atmosphere in Portadown very bad.

    —  Sectarian tension on streets.

Third Parties:

    —  Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

    —  Jonathan Powell.

    —  Frank Blair.

Observations about Conflict Intervention:

    —  Prime Minister actively involved.

    —  Government driven by concern to support D Trimble politically and to stabilize the community on the ground.

    —  Orange Order being encouraged by Downing Street.

    —  Jonathan Powell's Proximity process peters out (no agreed objective or agenda).

    —  B Mac Cionnaith moots the idea of a Forum in Portadown.

    —  Spring 1999—Frank Blair starts a negotiation process. He is rejected by the Orange Order.

    —  D Trimble meets GRRC for the first time.

    —  D Trimble, B Mac Cionnaith, J Duffy participate is short-lived discussions among elected representatives in Craigavon.

    —  Nearing Drumcree, J Powell returns to chair face to face talks at Stormont between GRRC and Orange reps, including D Trimble.

    —  No mediators involved.

    —  No mediation.

    —  No contact between Portadown District and GRRC.

1999—DRUMCREE FIVE

Event: Less intense protest.

Outcome: Army fortifications. Continuation of token presence/protest.
Parties:Objective:
  1.  Orange:
    (i)  District (D Jones & H Gracey).
    (ii)  County (D Watson).
    (iii)  Grand Lodge.
    (iv)  Long Marchers.
    (v)  Rev Pickering.
    (vi)  Unionist politicians.
    (vii)  British Government.
    (viii)  PUP. 		To get the parade down the road.
  2.  GRRC: Objective:
To create equality of treatment for the Catholic community in Portadown and ensure equality of treatment under the law.
  3.  Others:
    (i)  Brid Rodgers.
    (ii)  Sinn Fein.
    (iii)  Dublin Government.
  4.  RUC:
    (i)  ACC Craig.
    (ii)  Div Commander Donnan.
    (iii)  SDC Waddell.
    (iv)  CC Flanagan.

Third Parties:

    —  Mo Mowlam.

    —  Tony Blair.

    —  Jonathan Powell.

Observations about Conflict Intervention:

    —  Church of Ireland produces pledges, critical of Orange.

    —  Direct contact between GRRC and "political/legal reps" at Stormont.

    —  GRRC interested in a wider agenda: context.

    —  Orange focused on "technicalities" of parading—whether to parade, not up for discussion.

    —  GRRC unhappy about no contact with Portadown District.

    —  District led to believe that a parade was imminent. This defused protest.

    —  Rev Pickering helped defuse protest with a dispersal plan.

1999-2000

WITHIN ORANGE ORDER:

    —  Emergence of "political and legal representatives".

    —  District advisers taking note of Parades Commission rulings; finding ways to conform.

WITHIN RESIDENTS' SIDE:

    —  Now clearly viewing British Government as the major party to the conflict.

    —  Now asserting issues of ethnicity.

    —  Anxious to prove the worth of the Good Friday Agreement.

    —  More interested in accommodating a parade to and from Drumcree via the alternative route than down the Garvaghy Road.

EVENTS ON GROUND:

    —  Establishment of Executive.

    —  Nationalists in government.

    —  Cross-border bodies.

    —  Commissions on police, equality, criminal justice.

    —  Review of Parades Commission.

    —  Appointment of new Parades Commission.

    —  Crisis in the Political Process.

Third Parties:

    —  Tony Blair.

    —  George Howarth.

    —  Adam Ingram.

    —  Peter Mandelson.

Observations about Conflict Intervention:

    —  Adam Ingram negotiation process addressed agenda-setting.

    —  Orange representatives refusing to discuss question of parade, only technical arrangements.

    —  GRRC anxious to widen the agenda.

    —  GRRC unhappy at not yet meeting Portadown District.

    —  No mediators involved.

    —  No prospect of mediation.

 
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