Loyalist protests outside the Church of Our Lady, in Harryville, Ballymena, look set to begin again after an Orange Order parade in the Co Antrim village of Dunloy was prevented by the RUC yesterday afternoon. The RUC served notice yesterday morning that the march would not be allowed to go from the Orange Hall, at the edge of the mainly nationalist village, to Dunloy Presbyterian Church.
Shortly after 3 p.m., the RUC blocked the Station Road, about a mile from Dunloy. Further down the road, over 200 Orangemen gathered. Also present were the local accordion band and a large group of supporters which included loyalists associated with the Harryville protest.
The leader of Dunloy Orange lodge, Mr John Finlay, told the crowd that he expected them to remain peaceful. The heavilymarshalled parade reached RUC lines, where Mr Finlay stated his objections to not being allowed through.
A short religious service was held on the road by the Rev John Gilkinson, minister of Dunloy Presbyterian Church.