TWO Labour Party TDs, a senator and a Fianna Fail TD were in Portadown yesterday to observe the parade and stand off between the RUC and Orangemen. Mr Joe Costello, Mr Declan Bree and Senator Sean Maloney said they had been invited by the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition as observers.
Mr Bree said the coalition had invited all the political parties to send representatives to observe the situation in Portadown. Mr Eamon O Cuiv had been there for Fianna Fail, he said, and Ms Brid Rodgers of the SDLP, who is from Co Armagh, was there at one stage during the day.
Mr Costello said the Labour Party leadership was aware of their presence in Portadown and they would report back what they had seen. "It certainly seems to be well organised, and the RUC kept a low profile."
There was no provocation from either side, Senator Maloney said, and the scuffles earlier in the day were minor.
The three men had gone up to the church from the Garvaghy side while the Orange parade arrived with the bands, and then came down through the police ranks to the nationalist side. "Web were asked to observe " Mr Bree said. Senator Maloney said they had not been bothered by anyone.
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