Violence has once again flared at Drumcree as the Portadown Orange District escalates its protest in the run-up to Christmas.
On Thursday night more than 1,000 Orangemen gathered at the Co Armagh church amid growing concerns over a massive rally planned for Portadown next Saturday. About two dozen fireworks and some stones were thrown at police, who later acknowledged that Orange marshals had acted responsibly and controlled the crowd. There were no injuries reported.
A group calling itself the Ulster Coalition for Justice has called for every Protestant in Northern Ireland to support the December 19th rally in Porta down.
The Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition spokesman, Breandan Mac Cionnaith, said yesterday the references to the escalation of protest were underestimating the unceasing intimidation that had been going on in Portadown over the past five months.