MEMBERS of the Royal Black Institution lodged a protest with the RUC in Newry on Saturday evening when they were prevented from completing a parade route. The parade was stopped by the RUC in riot gear positioned in front of a group of protesting nationalists.
The parade, involving about 400 people and nine bands, marched on Saturday morning before leaving for a county demonstration at Killyleagh. But it took a shortened route, turning at the Trevor Hill roundabout. Across the Clanrye River, a crowd of about 150 people supporting the Newry Coalition Against Sectarian Marches was positioned in front of the town hall.
Minor scuffles had broken out at another protest held in the same area on Friday night when a loyalist parade took place.
The members of the Newry Royal Black District Chapter had already agreed to follow a shorted route on Saturday evening, and it was thought there was a possibility they would not march at all.
However, when the proposals were put to the members following the morning march, they apparently demanded the later march take place.
Traditionally, they had walked through the town from the Orange Hall in the morning and evening, to and from their buses.
After 7 p.m., when a larger crowd of nationalists had gathered in front of the town hall, the parade marched up to the RUC jeeps which were lined across the road. Leading members of the order protested to RUC divisional commander, Supt Felix Duffy, before the group sang God Save the Queen. Afterwards, the loyalists turned back towards the Orange Hall.
Following the three parades, Mr Gary Joyce, spokesman for the Newry Coalition Against Sectarian Marches, said they had planned "peaceful, dignified" protests and were pleased at the way the nationalists had behaved.