Sir, - While conceding that the action of protesters at Harryville is linked, in their minds, to events in Dunloy there is, nevertheless, a fundamental distinction to be made.
To go to a church service as an individual or as a family, in particular if it is to the regular place of family worship, is to make a quite different statement, and with quite different implications, from that being made by those who go in parade to a church service - more especially if they are not members of the particular church in question.
In the vexed state of Northern Ireland, where perceptions are as significant as intentions, the gulf will only be bridged by dialogue which aims to promote clarification and increasing understanding as prelude to an accommodation.
If, however, confidence is lacking and trust is at a premium, people act defensively. They may well need the help of agreed and trusted third party involvement. This is where facilitators become vital, people who are well informed, with a proven record of impartially and who have the training or back up (preferably both) to establish at the outset well tried rules and conventions in the search for accommodation. Failure to reach such accommodation should not be the signal for the police to decide the outcome as well as having the responsibility of policing it. We therefore support the establishment of an independent Parade's Commissioner/Commission to be in position to encourage accommodation and also to give leadership if and when such accommodation fails.
With these matters in mind, the following points are offered for consideration:
1. No one regardless of how they are dressed, should be denied access, as an individual or as a family, to a church service.
2. Any parade, known to have more than 50 per cent of participants belongings to the congregation of a particular church should have right of attendance to the church guaranteed unless there is strong evidence to suggest the likelihood of provocative action on behalf of the marchers or that the march in question is merely an exercise in coat trailing through territory in which it is not welcome.
3. Apart from the conditions outlined above, no march or parade by any organisation should be permitted through territory in which there is clearly significant opposition to it without due process of consultation, dialogue and agreement on an acceptable accommodation.
4. Verification of such opposition should be required at an adequately advertised and open meeting of residents and such verification should be conveyed by a duly constituted committee.
Even in a hostile locality, opposition to a parade is not always a black and white matter and it may be possible to enable accommodation by addressing various aspects, e.g., the number of parades, their size, the selection of music, the posture of flags and other matters of style and so on.
Conditions which may dissolve feelings of resentment on one side may induce feelings of humiliation in the others and vice versa. The objective must surely be to avoid, if at all possible, resentment of humiliation on either side. We look forward to reading the outcome of the North enquiry. - Yours, etc.,
On behalf of the Executive Panel of the New Ireland Group.
Charlotte Street,
Ballymoney,
Co Antrim.