Tight security for march

Press, 15 July 1987, Page 8

Tight security for march

NZPA-Reuter Portadown

Tens of thousands of Protestants paraded across Northern Ireland on Monday to commemorate a seventeenth century victory over the Catholics. The marches came after a night of sporadic rioting in which six policemen were injured. Police security was tight amid fears that the Irish Republican Army (1.R.A.), fighting to end British rule in Northern Ireland, might bomb the parades to stir up com-

munity tensions in the strife-tom province. With 19 parades being held across Northern Ireland, the province echoed to the sound of fife and drum bands as bowlerhatted Orangemen, wearing sashes and white gloves and carrying furled umbrellas, marched through the streets. The parades are resented by the Catholic minority who view them as an arrogant display of strength by the Protestants who outnumber them two-to-one. Police reported little

trouble as the Protestants celebrated the 1690 victory of Protestant King William of Orange over Britain’s last Catholic King, James 11, at the Battle of the Boyne. About 600 police and troops were drafted to the market town of Portadown, a major flashpoint in the last two years when dozens of rioters were injured in clashes with police. The parade passed off without incident On Sunday night six policemen were slightly injured in clashes with Protestants -