Loyalists in Portadown, Co Armagh, say that they intend to mount a "Harryville-style" picket on the St John the Baptist Church at the top of the town's Garvaghy Road. It is believed that the protest will begin within the next 10 days.
This latest move by loyalists comes at the beginning of the 1999 "marching season" and is seen as a deliberate attempt to force a resolution to the Drumcree parade impasse, which is now approaching its 300th day.
A loyalist source in Portadown said yesterday that the decision to mount a picket on the Catholic church had been under consideration for some time. However, it had been deliberately delayed to cause the maximum effect when introduced.
The loyalist source emphasised that it was clear from the reaction of Catholics when they had been prevented from attending Mass during earlier Drumcree standoffs that a church protest would prove particularly emotive.
"Protestant anger is growing that the Portadown Orange District are still prevented from returning home from Drumcree church via the Garvaghy Road", the source said. "The people responsible for that are the residents of the Garvaghy Road. Now they are going to get a dose of their own medicine, as we make it impossible for them to get to their place of worship. These people will face loyalist pickets on a regular basis as they attempt to attend Mass. We will see how they react to that."
The loyalist source continued: "We wish to make it clear from the start that this picket has not been organised by the Orange Order. They have not been approached in any manner. It is also a mistake to infer that there is any paramilitary involvement. This is a protest by the Protestant people of Portadown."
There is little doubt that a loyalist picket on St John's Church would further heighten tension in Portadown. It will also present a major challenge to the security forces, who are already having to deal with Drumcree protests on an almost nightly basis in flashpoint areas of Portadown.
The spokesman for the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition, Mr Breandan Mac Cionnaith, said he was concerned at the possibility of a loyalist picket on the local Catholic church. "Basically, if this is the case, then the government must step in", he said. "They must impose an outright ban on all parades near flashpoint areas in Portadown.
"The Drumcree issue is between the government and anti-agreement forces. The government must take positive action now. Portadown is in an extremely volatile state at present, following the death of Rosemary Nelson. If firm action is not taken soon, then there could be further serious violence and even loss of life."
Portadown Orange District has organised a total of eight parades and rallies in support of the Drumcree protest throughout the month of April. The largest of these is planned for Saturday April 24th, when a parade sponsored by the Grand Lodge of Ireland is due to pass through the centre of Portadown.