THE Royal Black Preceptory yesterday agreed to shorten their route through the Fermanagh village of Newtownbutler after the church parade was picketed by around 120 protesters.
Members of Sinn Fein and Saoirse were among the protesters who waved Tricolours and carried banners reading "No sectarian marches in a 97 per cent nationalist town" and "Disband the RUC".
Around 100 marchers paraded up to a three man RUC line before going to a service at Galloon Parish Church.
Fermanagh South Tyrone Ulster Unionist MP, Mr Ken Maginnis, attended the parade as an observer. The last parade in the village on July 12th ended in a riot when a 150 strong nationalist crowd set a car on fire, intimidated a Protestant family from their home and attacked businesses.
Addressing the crowd, Clones Sinn Fein councillor, Mr Pat Trainor, harshly criticised the RUC's handling of the Drumcree crisis and said the anger shown by nationalists who rioted in Newtownbutler last weekend was justifiable.
He said: "What happened on your behalf was justified. You are angry, you are mad, you wanted to do something about it and so you did. I am asking you to stay involved in this struggle which has been going on for 27 years. It will continue until this bigoted state is done away with."
Yesterday's parade passed off peacefully. The Independent councillor for the area, Mr Tony McPhillips, said he believes that Newtownbutler residents were willing to negotiate with the Orange Order and Black Preceptory on the parades issue.
However, Fermanagh Ulster Unionist councillor and RPB member, Mr Cecil Noble, said that until now there had been no objections to the parades, adding that those protesting are only `stirring the pot'.