Dr Eames defends Drumcree efforts

The Church of Ireland primate, Dr Eames, has defended his church's handling of the annual Drumcree crisis.

He has also pleaded with both sides not to allow their efforts to seek a resolution to be distracted by the coming elections.

Speaking at a press briefing yesterday in advance of the church's General Synod in Dublin next week, he said: "No single issue of my primacy has occupied more heartache and time." He was "fully conscious of the damage done to the Christian Church and the Church of Ireland" by the images of Drumcree parish church appearing annually on TV screens worldwide. But "truly no stone has been left unturned" in seeking a resolution, he said.

Independent legal opinion was that "nothing more can be done within the structures and laws of the Church of Ireland to resolve this issue". As regards moral leadership, "that was there for all to see". The rector and the select vestry at Drumcree had issued an invitation and "were left in no doubt on the moral issues which follow from that".

His message for this year is that people should not be distracted from the mediation process. He wished to "encourage, encourage, encourage both main parties to find some sort of agreement.

The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Walton Empey, wondered about the lack of press coverage on the stance of the Garvaghy Road residents. He noted that there were no houses along one side of the road and said: "I sometimes think they want to be hurt, in the area".