Northern Ireland

Tour of North raised fears of sectarian clashes

There were fears that the Tour of the North parade in 1996 would spark violent sectarian clashes. Picture by Hugh Russell
There were fears that the Tour of the North parade in 1996 would spark violent sectarian clashes. Picture by Hugh Russell There were fears that the Tour of the North parade in 1996 would spark violent sectarian clashes. Picture by Hugh Russell

COMMUNITY workers, politicians and police feared the Tour of the North parade in 1996 would spark violent sectarian clashes.

The issue was raised by the then Secretary of State's wife Lady Mayhew following a visit to north Belfast.

On May 28 1996, Lady Mayhew's private secretary, Mary Butcher informed J M Steele, head of the NIO Security Division, about a visit to the Belfast Community Development Centre on Cliftonville Road.

The memo stated that its director Vivienne Anderson raised her "grave concerns about the tensions surrounding the forthcoming Orange parade".

In particular, she had "found it alarming to listen to (the respected cross-community worker's) fears about the parade's potential for violence".

In a follow-up letter to the official at Stormont Castle dated May 25, 1996, Ms Anderson stated that "a very militant group" had been established to oppose the parade and that given its "tortuous route", it would be regrettable "if a fuse were to be lit which could not be controlled".

In a reply to Ms Butcher, Mr Steele revealed that Ms Anderson's fears had been voiced by Martin Morgan, an SDLP councillor.

He added: "The police too are very concerned about the developing situation along the parade route."

He added that the Tour of the North was now being seen as a "significant curtain-raiser for the rest of the marching season", including on the lower Ormeau Road in Belfast and Drumcree.

Sir John Wheeler was hosting a dinner for the Loyal Orders "to spell out the dangers".

Files reveal a meeting at Stormont on May 13, 1996 between Mr Morgan and Mr Steele at which Mr Morgan stated "his people had no problem with others' right to march but they cannot see the logic of the route (which was) 99 per cent RC".

Mr Steele replied that what some saw as the principle of consent other saw as a veto.

Mr Morgan alleged that the RUC was being "manipulated by their political masters at Stormont". Mr Steele replied that the Protestants were saying the same thing, only that it was due to Irish government interference. Neither side was right.

However, Mr Morgan said that his party and community groups had been due to meet the Orange Order about the parade but that Nelson McCausland of the UUP had leaked this to the media as a result of which the Orange Order did not turn up.

Asked by the official why north Belfast had only become a problem this year, Mr Morgan referred to the Orange Order's "intransigence" and the previous year's violence at Drumcree, the heavy security forces presence and demographic changes.

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