Anger and resentment was voiced in many Protestant areas of Portadown yesterday after remarks by Archbishop Robin Eames on the Drumcree protest. Dr Eames, speaking at the Church of Ireland synod in Dublin said, "without a shadow of reservation, I condemn unreservedly, in the name of the synod of the Church of Ireland, the violence, intimidation, injuries and deaths which have accompanied or been associated with the protest at Drumcree". Dr Eames went on to say the Orange protest was, "unchristian" and, "totally unacceptable in the vicinity of a church".
At Drumcree, no one from the Orange Order was available for comment on the primate's remarks. However, Mr David Jones, Portadown district Orange lodge press officer, said his district was "making no response at the moment". He added: "We will be examining the full context of the archbishop's speech and the subsequent vote taken by the synod later in the day. If necessary, we will comment at that stage."
In loyalist areas many people were angered by Dr Eames's speech. Mr Alex Corbett, a student from the Killycomaine area, said the archbishop had, "overstepped the mark with his comments". "All these remarks will do is to inflame the situation further," he said.
Mr Alan Kerr, from Corcrain, also critised Dr Eames, saying his remarks could precipitate a split in the Church of Ireland locally. He accused the archbishop of, "paying too much notice to the southern input into his church".
However, Mrs Collette McCann, a Catholic, supported the stance taken by Dr Eames saying he was "right to speak out against this protest". Mrs McCann said she felt it was time the Drumcree protest was ended. "I think the Church of Ireland should stop the Orangemen attending any of its services," said Mrs McCann. "They should remove them from Drumcree now and allow this town to get back to normal."