AT ABOUT 11 p.m. last night Paul Smith was optimistic. The spokesman for the Bellaghy nationalist protesters believed that a compromise deal had been worked out to allow loyalist marchers to "disperse peacefully".
The deal meant that around 120 members of the Black Preceptory would walk, not march along the footpath and not on the road. No music and no flags. It seemed a lot for the Blackmen to accept and some protesters said they were surprised they had. "They must have some hidden cards," said one.
Mr Smith said the worst scenario would be, if they were allowed to walk through and then put up their banners en route. "That would be like a red rag to a bull."
An hour later the deal was scrapped. The Bellaghy standoff reached its tenth hour and was back at square one. The protest started at 2.30 p.m. when around 300 nationalists sat blocking the road at the northern end of the village. The march of the South Derry District of the Royal Black Chapter tried to march through the town, turned around, and attended a service in the Church of Ireland church.
At 6.30 pm the marchers returned and the RUC looked set to force the march through. Some 400 officers in full riot gear moved in on either end of the main street sandwiching protesters in a 100 yard strip. A local priest, Father Andrew Dolan pleaded for compromise.
"The plea has been for the marchers to go along the side of the Street past us to get this over today.
For the next four hours the two sides negotiated through acting RUC Assistant Chief Constable Tom Craig. A Black Preceptory leader, Mr Robert Overend, made a brief statement. He said the Black Preceptory was a peaceful organisation: "We've been to church. We're now trying to return home peaceably from church."
At 8.50 pm Mr Smith told the crowd he had proposed that protesters would allow the Blackmen to return to their cars.
"A positive response will defuse the situation immediately," he said.
Some time later the DUP MP for the area, the Rev William McCrea, arrived wearing Black Preceptory regalia and became involved in talks with the loyalist negotiators. At this point around 150 loyalists were separated from nationalist protesters by a noman's land of about 100 yards which had been created by the RUC. After midnight Mr Smith told the crowd the deal was off.
Mr McCrea insisted that the march should be forced through: "It's a recipe for disaster that you allow an illegal rabble to decide who can move in this society. It should be forced through. The consequence at this present moment is that Protestants have been intimidated out by sectarian nationalists.
"The rule of law will abide and will rule," he said.
Early this morning, the RUC's Deputy Chief Constable, Mr Ronnie Flanagan, was expected to, arrive to continue the negotiations.
