A CONTENTIOUS parade through Bellaghy village in Derry passed off peacefully yesterday after the RUC rerouted the Royal Black Institution march.
The parade went from the Orange Hall to the nearby church for a service and returned the same way. It was not permitted to go into the village centre. About 100 members' of the Bellaghy Concerned Residents held a short protest at 2.30 p.m. as the parade moved off.
The BCR chairman, Mr Jim Harrison, said tensions in Bellaghy were at "fever pitch" because of the high profile security presence since early yesterday.
He accused the security forces of searching houses and gardens in nationalist areas from early morning and ripping down Sinn Fein posters during the night. This, he said, was "unwarranted provocation".
Mr Harrison said local people were unaware of the parade by the Bellaghy Royal Black Preceptory until last Thursday and could get no confirmation of it until Friday when he, telephoned the parades commission.
Mr Harrison accused the organisers of trying to sneak the parade through by not publicising that it was taking place.
No notice was given in the local press and he questioned if the parade organisers had even given seven days, let alone three weeks, notice.
It is understood, however, that 21 days notice was given to the RUC.