THE RUC may seal off all roads leading to Drumcree in Portadown, Co Armagh, several days before the contentious Orange Order march takes place next month, according to a nationalist source. An RUC spokesman said yesterday no decision had been made regarding Drumcree and discussions continued between "many interested parties".
The source claimed a plan had been drawn up which involved blocking all access routes to Drumcree Church two to five days before the July 6th parade.
RUC Chief Constable, Mr Ronnie Flanagan, and Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, were reported to be keen on the proposal. An NIO spokesman refused to comment and said it was a matter for the RUC.
Orangemen are planning to march down the nationalist Garvaghy Road following a church service at Drumcree. There have been lengthy standoffs between the RUC, loyalists and residents in the past two years.
Last year, the RUC was forced to reverse a decision to reroute the march after thousands of Orange men assembled at Drumcree and loyalist roadblocks were set up all over the North, stretching security to breaking point.
"The RUC and the British government do not want that to happen again," the source said. "They are going to great lengths to avoid a repeat performance.
Roadblocks would be set up on all access routes to Drumcree and staffed by British soldiers if necessary, the source said. Only Portadown Orange men would be allowed through thus ensuring that any trouble at Drumcree would be contained.
The British government would then encourage dialogue between the Portadown brethren and residents in the immediate lead up to the march, the source added.
Meanwhile, the first contentious parade of the marching season passed off peacefully yesterday despite fears of confrontation. Around 200 Orangemen and an accordion band marched up to police lines in the nationalist village of Bellaghy, Co Derry.
They handed over a letter of protest about the rerouting of their parade. Around 400 RUC officers separated the marchers from about 200 nationalist residents who held a counter demonstration to protest at the Order's refusal to engage in dialogue.
Orange deputy grand master, Mr Robert Overend, said: "I want the message to go out loud and clear from Bellaghy that we are seeking peace. The Orange institution has no intention, of fighting with police. We don't want trouble but at the same time we want our cultural rights."
But Mr Overend warned that Orangemen would pursue their rights vigorously this summer. "Just because I don't want to fight doesn't mean I can't," he added.
Orangemen in the nationalist village of Mount field, near Omagh in Co Tyrone, expressed their "disgust and dismay" when the RUC rerouted their march yesterday. There was no trouble at the parade.
An Orange march which the RUC rerouted in Keady, Co Armagh, was also peaceful. The order's grand master, Mr Robert Saulters, yesterday said it would be prepared to talk to some residents but would not negotiate with groups linked to Sinn Fein.