The Orange Order intends to stage all its Twelfth of July demonstrations in Portadown this year if the current Drumcree impasse still exists at that time, it emerged yesterday.
A source close to the Grand Lodge of Ireland said the matter had been, and still was, under discussion. However, he indicated that in the eventuality of the Portadown Orange District still being prevented from completing its outstanding 1998 church parade along the Garvaghy Road prior to July this year, "the Grand Lodge would most certainly give the go-ahead for all Orangemen to rally at Drumcree".
Speculation has been growing that the Orange Order would centralise all July 12th celebrations in Portadown this year in a massive show of support for the Drumcree protest, which is now over six months old.
The recent decision by the Portadown Orange District not to participate in proximity talks with representatives of the Garvaghy Road Residents' Association also indicated a hardening of attitudes by the Orangemen, who say they will remain at Drumcree until they are allowed to walk the disputed route.
The prospect of 80,000 Orangemen and their supporters from all over the North converging on Portadown will create a major headache for security chiefs and also for the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam. A massive security operation involving both RUC and army would be required to prevent possible confrontation between rival groups. The cost of the operation would add to the millions of pounds already spent on policing the current Drumcree impasse.
A "Drumcree Twelfth" will also create a major test for any new executive should it be formed. The fact that Portadown and Drumcree are both in Upper Bann, the constituency of the First Minister-designate, Mr David Trimble, has not gone unnoticed by Orangemen, the majority of whom fiercely oppose the local MP and his policies.
One Portadown Orangeman said yesterday: "This is the news we wanted to hear. The Orange Order was born in this area. Drumcree will now decide its future and also that of David Trimble."
Meanwhile, reports in a Belfast morning newspaper that Orangemen were no longer maintaining a 24-hour presence at Drumcree were rebutted by District Master Mr Harold Gracey.
Speaking at Drumcree at lunchtime yesterday, he said he was unaware of the newspaper reports and dismissed them as "mischief-making". He had not been approached by reporters to ask if the protest was continuing.
He said it was certainly not difficult to locate the Orange presence at Drumcree as the caravan used by Orangemen maintaining their 24-hour presence at the church was visible from the roadway.