Taoiseach tells Major of anger, deep concern over march

THE Taoiseach told the British Prime Minister last night that there was widespread anger and deep concern in Ireland about the decision to allow the march down the Garvaghy Road.

Mr Bruton had a 25 minute telephone conversation with Mr Major which a Government spokesman described as "difficult and frank".

He told Mr Major he was dismayed that the elaborate preparations which were made to prevent this "provocative" march from taking place were simply thrown aside in the face of massive intimidation.

He pointed out that church leaders had said that further consultations could have led to an acceptable outcome. He was shocked that this process of consultation had not been allowed to take its course before the marchers were allowed through.

Mr Bruton also expressed his grave concern about what may happen in the lower Ormeau area today.

He condemned the murder of the Catholic taxi driver, Mr Michael McGoldrick, who was shot dead earlier this week, and the intimidation which had led to Catholic families being forced out of their homes in Belfast.

Notwithstanding the forthright language used in the telephone call, Government sources said there was no rift in Anglo Irish relations. They pointed out, however, that the operational decision of the RUC to allow the march had massive political implications and the Taoiseach was attempting to convey this in his telephone conversation.

Neither the Government nor the Anglo Irish secretariat in Belfast, was given any advance notice of the RUC decision which Mr Bruton described as "precipitate and a mistake".

The Tanaiste, Mr Spring, warned that if this was the alternative to talks, it created a very bleak picture for Northern Ireland.

Mr Bruton, who was in Paris was first informed about what was happening by the Maryfield secretariat after the march had gone through Garvaghy Road at lunchtime. The Taoiseach's Department was in contact with 10 Downing Street in the afternoon and a protest was lodged with the Anglo Irish secretariat about the decision.

Following official consultations with Mr Bruton in Paris and Mr Spring in Bosnia, the Government issued a strongly worded statement expressing its grave concern at the events on Garvaghy Road.

The abrupt reversal of the decision about the route of the Orange parade was regretted, it said. It ran counter to the previously agreed approach by both governments to accord parity of esteem to both the nationalist and unionist communities.

The Government was aware of, and supported the efforts being made at local level and with assistance from church leaders to find an acceptable conclusion to the situation. "We are not aware of a reason why this dialogue was not pursued to the required acceptable outcome, the statement continued.

The Government was "fully conscious of the anger" which the decision had caused to the nationalist community in Northern Ireland and appealed to all concerned to show the utmost restraint at this time.