Dunloy rally raises fears of troubles

THE scene is set for further marching confrontation in Dunloy, Co Antrim, tomorrow if a compromise is not reached between Orangemen…

THE scene is set for further marching confrontation in Dunloy, Co Antrim, tomorrow if a compromise is not reached between Orangemen and local nationalists, the SDLP representative for North Antrim, Mr Sean Farren, has warned.

However, eleventh hour mediation efforts were continuing yesterday to reach a compromise on what, it is hoped, will be the last controversy of the marching season.

A decision by the Dunloy Residents' Group to hold a rally to coincide with the Orange parade has added to apprehension in the area. Mr Paddy O'Kane, spokesman for the group, said locals wanted to reach accommodation but that could happen only through face to face dialogue. "We make the decisions on who walks here and who doesn't," he said.

Gerry Moriarty

Gerry Moriarty

Gerry Moriarty is the former Northern editor of The Irish Times