UK: NORTHERN IRELAND: BRITISH TROOPS AT PORTADOWN MARCH

(1 Jul 2000) English/Nat
XFA
Northern Ireland on Saturday was poised for a tense weekend, ahead of Sunday's controversial Orangemen march.

Authorities have warned that small groups of dissident loyalists are planning to cause trouble.

The British army has deployed extra troops from the mainland to contain trouble - as marchers have been banned from Catholic nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown.

British Army soldiers and the Royal Ulster Constabulary have begun deploying in Ireland ahead of Sunday's controversial Orangemen march.

Around 2,000 extra British Army troops have been drafted into Northern Ireland.

Orangemen are furious their march has been banned from the Catholic nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown.

Both Catholics and Protestants fear there'll be violence this year - following rumours of greater Loyalist paramilitary involvement.

SOUNDBITE:(English)
"Obviously, there is a bit of apprehension given all the speculation of the possibility of Loyalist paramilitary involvement at Drumcree this year again, given recent statements from the Orange volunteers and the Loyalist volunteer force. They have been engaged in the killing of Catholics over the last number of years. There's the real possibility that that still remains this year again."
SUPER CAPTION: Brendan Mc Kenna, Head of Garvaghy Road residents group

SOUNDBITE:(English)
"You don't really know what to expect because anything could happen. So you're expecting everything but you don't really know what it is."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop

SOUNDBITE:(English)
"We can't just give in them and let them down the road. This is the whole Catholic area. Why don't they just march in their own area and stop the whole ball."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop

SOUNDBITE:(English)
"They should have been allowed to walk last year and the year before. I think the Orange men have the right to walk the traditional routes and that would solve - there wouldn't be any fear of trouble then.
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop

SOUNDBITE:(English)
"I think you may see some trouble on the streets. I'm sure you've noticed that there are a lot more loyalist paramilitary flags out this year than they're normally would be. That's normally a sign as to rally the troops up and get people out on to the streets in some sort of organised violence - which is unfortunate, but you might well see that happen this year. The loyalists may get more involved than they have done in the past."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop

SOUNDBITE:(English)
"I think it's disgusting. I think you should be allowed to march because it's a free country and it is the Queen's Highway, not a national road."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop

SOUNDBITE:(English)
"There's a feeling it's gone on too long, for too many years. And maybe it's time it all should be wound up and come to an end somehow. There's a general feeling that we're all a wee bit tired of this. Let's just move on."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop

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