Trimble says rioters have let Orange Order down

The North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, has expressed disgust at violence at Drumcree and says the Orangemen involved have…

The North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, has expressed disgust at violence at Drumcree and says the Orangemen involved have let down themselves and the Order.

Only a handful of Orangemen gathered yesterday at Drumcree hill. The huge steel barrier, blocking a lane leading to the Garvaghy Road, remained in place. However, there was a relaxed mood among police officers present.

During the trouble on Sunday, which lasted about an hour, three plastic bullets were fired. Three civilians and 24 police officers were injured. Mr Trimble visited one of the injured officers in hospital yesterday.

He would not attach any blame on Portadown district lodge which organised the parade.

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"Some people who thought they were coming to support Portadown district ended up doing an enormous amount of damage to orangeism and to our hopes for a peaceful summer," he said.

"Those Orangemen who engaged in an attack on the police let themselves down, let the institution down. I hope very much that the leadership of the Orange Order look at this very carefully to see what can be done."

A spokesman for the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, expressed disappointment that a "dignified and well-ordered demonstration was overtaken by the loutish behaviour and thuggery of a small minority".

Mr Blair believed the police and British army handled the situation with their "customary professionalism". Without playing down what happened at Drumcree on Sunday, it was important to remember that it had been far worse in previous years, he added.

The Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop Robin Eames, condemned Sunday's violence as "deplorable, disgusting and completely unacceptable".

He added: "The verbal and physical attacks on the police have once more portrayed the ugly face of violence in this province across the world. Nothing can excuse such thuggery." A solution was still possible to the Drumcree dispute, he said. "Despite our frustration and disappointment, we cannot walk away from this problem."

The Orange Order's executive officer, Mr George Patten, condemned the violence. "Any right-thinking person would have been absolutely horrified at what they saw on their television screens," he said.

The Drumcree rector, the Rev John Pickering, said he was disappointed the protest had disintegrated into violence. The trouble had been started by a group of teenagers and the Orange Order, "like any organisation, has its weak members", he said. "I am just hoping they will acknowledge that and will repent of it."

The chairman of the North's Policing Board, Prof Desmond Rea, urged everyone with influence to promote peaceful demonstration in coming days. "Once again we have been subjected to scenes of violence which we all hoped had been condemned to the past.

Despite extensive efforts by the Police Service of Northern Ireland to find a policing solution which would be more acceptable to everyone in the community, there were those who were determined to cause serious disorder. "The viciousness of attack directed at the police was extremely disturbing as were the level and extent of injuries sustained by the police and their military colleagues."

The DUP mayor of Craigavon, Mr Jonathan Bell, said those responsible must be brought to justice. Local SDLP Assembly member Ms Bríd Rodgers said the Orange Order had a responsibility to co-operate with police.

Time for new level of mutual trust in Northern Ireland: page 12