AS THE perceived "boycott" by Catholics of many Protestant businesses in Border towns and villages continued to bite, Sinn Fein has again strongly denied that it is behind the campaign.
In the latest manifestation of Catholic anger over the Orangemen's blockading of roads during the Drumcree standoff, parents of some pupils attending a convent school in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, are reported to have refused to buy school uniforms from the only supplier.
They have indicated to the school that they will not purchase from the clothing stores of Mr Roy Kells, who is the Orange Order's Co Fermanagh deputy Grand Master.
The school, the Mount Lourdes Convent of Mercy grammar school, is understood to have told the parents that Mr Kells will continue to be the sole supplier of the uniforms.
A local Independent Nationalist councillor, Mr Tony McPhillips, said it was his belief that no orchestration was involved in the parents' campaign. It was his understanding that there had been a conscious decision not to shop in certain premises.
An SDLP councillor, Mr Sean Farren, said the boycott had been started mainly because certain people had been seen participating in illegal roadblocks. When people in either community observed others participating in illegal activities and saw that no action was taken against them, "quite obviously" a degree of resentment built up.
However, Mr Farren condemned the boycott as a weapon.
It was insidious and double-edged and could seriously damage community relations, he said.
The Sinn Fein representative for west Tyrone, Mr Barry McElduff, denied that his party was behind a boycott campaign aimed at Protestant businesses.
He said in a statement: "Sinn Fein has consistently denied any involvement. It seems more likely that these perceived events are being used by unionist politicians in an attempt to gain the moral high ground after their publicity disaster at Drumcree. They are now trying to portray themselves as the victims of Drumcree rather than the culprits."
Meanwhile, some community leaders have suggested that the spreading boycott can be stopped only if a solution to the marching issue is found.
The depth of Catholic feeling, especially in rural areas, over the prolonged blockade of towns and villages was underestimated, they said. For several days people could not go about their business, they were intimidated at road- blocks while the RUC stood by, and on occasion even funeral corteges were stopped.
A number of unionist elected representatives took part in roadblocks.