Northern Ireland

Protestants in Limavady 'living in fear' amid post-Drumcree boycott

Protestants in Limavady were intimidated amid anger over the Drumcree parading dispute. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Protestants in Limavady were intimidated amid anger over the Drumcree parading dispute. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin Protestants in Limavady were intimidated amid anger over the Drumcree parading dispute. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

PROTESTANTS in Limavady were 'living in fear' due to boycotts and intimidation in the wake of the Drumcree parading row, declassified files highlight.

Limavady Borough Council's community relations officer wrote to the Northern Ireland Office in 1997 to highlight poor relationships in the town and in nearby Dungiven.

He reported "widespread intimidation and attacks" on the Protestant community in Dungiven, including attacks on Protestant-owned farms and verbal and physical assaults on Protestant clergy.

"Literally Protestants in the area are living in fear of their lives," he wrote.

In Limavady, he said there was a "consolidated attack on all Protestant businesses" and claimed there was "an all-out effort by Roman Catholics to buy Protestant commercial and residential property throughout Limavady" as businesses continued to close.

He claimed the town had been "swamped" by Catholics from Derry and Co Donegal who were working in new companies Benelux and Seagate.

He also said 300 students from Letterkenny, Co Donegal, were studying at the town's technical college.

"These young people appear to have a very nationalist stance and are most intimidating and abusive," he wrote.

He added: "Many law-abiding Roman Catholics are worried and quite anxious about the way their Protestant neighbours are being treated and abused and fear greatly for the future of the area. If the Protestants continue to move to Coleraine … they feel that nationalist ghettos will emerge with no respect for law and order."