A MAN lost an eye after being hit by a plastic bullet during disturbances in Keady, Co Armagh, at the weekend.
Mr Martin Toner (25), who is being treated in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, was described last night as "ill but stable".
His mother, Ms Margaret Toner, said her son was injured while returning from Mass in the town on Saturday night.
"I feel very annoyed and bitter. It's unbelievable to think you can go to chapel and end up losing an eye. Martin drives machinery and his eyes are very important to him," she said last night.
The RUC said it had not received any reports of injuries during the skirmishes in Keady.
The violence erupted after a minibus of loyalist bandsmen drove into St Patrick Street where a crowd of 200 people had gathered to object to an Orange Order march in the predominantly nationalist town.
More than 20 bands were taking part in the annual Drumderg loyalist flute band parade. Bands men had gathered outside the local Orange hall on Crossmore Road on the outskirts of the town about 500 yards from the demonstrators.
The parade was heading out of town towards Drumderg about two miles away. It has not passed through the centre of Keady for several years, following confrontations with police and demonstrators.
The RUC said 12 plastic bullets were fired after bottles and stones were thrown at officers by some protesters who broke away from the main group. An RUC spokesman said the minibus driver had apparently ignored diversion signs and was unaware he was heading towards protesters.
Local SDLP councillor Mr Tommy Kavanagh said he would be withdrawing all co operation from the RUC, which he blamed for allowing the minibus down the street.
Sinn Fein councillor Mr Noel Sheridan demanded to know why the bus was allowed down St Patrick Street. He claimed 15 to 20 baton rounds were fired before there was any stoning by the crowd.
Later, three Protestant owned businesses in Keady were fire bombed. A local priest, Father Patrick McDonnell, said he was "sickenend" by the arson attacks. It was a despicable act against innocent people, who are part of this community, just because they are Protestants and soft easy targets," he said.
In Armagh city, an estimated £200,000 worth of damage was caused to Wellworth's store in a firebomb attack early yesterday. Masked men threw petrol bombs through first floor windows around 4 a.m. The building and stock were damaged extensively.
But its manager, Mr George Early, said. It will be business as usual in the morning. We have been very lucky. I could have been telling 150 people there was no work for them.