A NEW loyalist organisation which has been set up in Ballymena, Co Antrim, is calling for a massive rally in the town next weekend in support of those protesting outside the Catholic church in Harryville.
Leaflets from the group, which calls itself the Co Antrim Orange Support Movement, were distributed at the loyalist band parade in Harryville on Saturday night, which was attended by about 2,000 people. They appear to signify that rather than end their 23 week picket of Our Lady's Church, the organisers want to step up their campaign.
The Harryville picket is in protest at the blocking by Catholics of recent Orange Order marches in the neighbouring village of Dunloy.
A loyalist band parade past Our Lady's on Saturday night passed off peacefully. The organisers had originally wanted to hold the march at 6.30 p.m., during Mass, but eventually agreed to delay it until 7 p.m. when Mass goers had gone home.
The compromise was reached after negotiations between the Harryville Residents' Association and the RUC in Ballymena. A spokesman for the residents said the decision had been taken to avoid confrontation.
The Alliance party chairman, Mr Steve McBride, stood outside Our Lady's in support of Massgoers, but no unionist politicians were in evidence.
Several members of the dissident Mid Ulster UVF attended the parade. Eleven bands, including Dunloy Accordion Band, took part. The Dunloy band had been warned that marching in Harryville could lead to it being banned from ever again parading through its home village.