THE RUC Chief Constable, Mr Ronnie Flanagan, said he took the decision to allow the parade down Garvaghy Road on the basis of "how much life was liable to be lost". That loss of life, he said, "was likely to be in the Catholic community".
In an apparent reference to threats from the Loyalist Volunteer Force, he said: "It was clear there were paramilitary influences on both sides, and I have no doubt that the paramilitary people wanted to use this issue as an excuse and I've no doubt that on one side paramilitary violence would have been rigged in terms of it being against the Catholic community.
Mr Flanagan said he had been faced with a "simple, stark choice in terms of balancing two evils". He had to take a decision on which of these evils was likely to bring about less violence. "In all those circumstances, I made a decision that the parade as proposed should proceed."
He said he could not elaborate on "the intelligence" he had taken into account in making the decision, and he apologised to the people of Garvaghy Road "for the gross inconvenience" the operation had caused.
"I have taken a decision, most reluctantly, to ensure that the people of the Garvaghy Road, among other outcomes of this decision, are not surrounded for days on end. I had to take a course of action that would result in less violence, and I am talking about serious violence. I'm talking about the risk of loss of life.
He denied an assertion by Ms Brid Rodgers of the SDLP that the decision was "brutally" implemented. His officers were met by "an onslaught of violence - a pre-prepared onslaught" as they moved into their positions.
Mr Flanagan said he had no doubt that the nationalist community would "feel hurt and aggrieved" at his decision and he asked them to accept that it was a decision he did not take lightly.
Replying to journalists' questions, he said: "I am not interested in Orangeism. I am not interested in parades. I am only interested in doing my very best to preserve the peace.
When asked why he had not informed residents of his decision, he said his local officers had tried to arrange meetings with Garvaghy Road residents on Saturday night. "I had spoken to them on earlier times. I think they had taken the decision earlier that they preferred not to talk to the police."
This was denied by the spokesman for the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition, Mr Breandan Mac Cionnaith. "No one tried to contact us at all. I have a mobile phone. I'm sure Ronnie Flanagan knows the number. I have been getting calls all night. The Secretary of State has that number."