THE Orange Order held a religious service on Ormeau Bridge, Belfast, yesterday in protest at an RUC decision to reroute its parade. There had been fears of violent clashes between loyalists and police but the event passed off peacefully.
The RUC banned marchers from passing through the nationalist Lower Ormeau on their way to an Orange Widows' service in the Ulster Hall in the city centre.
Loyalists staged a 16 hour stand off with police on Easter Monday when an Apprentice Boys parade was rerouted away from the Lower Ormeau. RUC officers were stoned and petrol bombed.
However, the order was determined that violence be avoided at yesterday's protest. Ballynafeigh Orange lodge and several hundred supporters marched to the bridge without a band. Police Land Rovers prevented them crossing.
They carried a banner with the slogan "ORDER Orange Residents Demand Equal Rights". The service was conducted by a Protestant minister, the Rev Bill Hoey, who said it was disgraceful that law abiding citizens were prevented from walking peacefully along the road.
He condemned nationalist residents who opposed Orange parades and threatened disorder if they were allowed through. The RUC was now siding with the law breakers against the law keepers, he said.
There were shouts from the crowd that the RUC were "bastards". Mr Hoey said Orangemen did not use that sort of language. But he warned that if the "loyal Protestant people" continued to be treated in such a manner, they might rise up and the RUC would have "nowhere to run and nowhere to hide".
The crowd then sang hymns and finished with God Save the Queen. There had been reports that the order would hold a vigil on the road until midnight and would be joined by Orangemen from other parts of Belfast.
After the service in the Ulster Hall, some Orangemen attempted to march to Ormeau Bridge but were stopped by police on the Dublin Road. The protesters on the bridge left after about two hours.
The Ulster Democratic Party leader, Mr Gary McMichael, and the Ulster Unionist councillor, Mr Michael McGimpsey, both attended. They were pleased the event ended peacefully.
The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, said the issue of the marches needed to be resolved urgently. Both sides must acknowledge each other's differences in an attempt to build trust and reconciliation, he said.
"While I defend the right of the Orange Order to hold their marches, equally I defend the right of citizens whose consent has not been given to oppose unwanted marches.
"Political leaders need to show clear and positive leadership at this time. Nationalists have objected to only a small handful of the 3,000 or so Orange marches which take place annually.
"It is not unreasonable, therefore, to call on unionist and Orange leaders to urgently rethink their position about this small number of controversial marches," he said.