Drumcree confrontation: Orange marchers accorded rapturous welcome

The Portadown Orangemen who marched down Garvaghy Road were given a heroes' welcome of cheers and applause on a scale more associated with an FA Cup final.

As the Edgarstown Accordion Band, leaving the Catholic area, struck up an old army anthem the mood of several thousand Protestants at their own end of the street was in sharp contrast to that of the nationalists a few hundred yards away.

Georgia Liggott, 71, sporting a No Surrender badge, said: "It is a victory. The police and soldiers have done us proud this year. They've done us proud." She added: "And we'll be down again next year."

A Portadown Orange Order spokesman regretted the need for the security forces to clear the route, but said common sense had prevailed over the decision to allow the march.

The parade, which organisers said contained 950 people, all from the Portadown district order, had begun its return journey from Drumcree church at 12.50pm. It followed a service at which Portadown's Orange leader, Harold Gracy, urgedmembers to show no triumphalism during or after the event. He warned the 350-strong congregation, which included the local MP and Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble, and the hundreds more listening to loudspeakers outside: "If anyone steps out of line this could be the last parade."

A message from Archbishop Robert Eames was read out, in which he praised those who had sought peace, and reminded Orangemen of their responsibility. "With the eyes of the world upon you at this time I ask you to reflect the ethos of your culture with respect and dignity."

In his sermon the rector of Drumcree, the Rev John Pickering, said that at last year's events "the country nearly came to the brink of something awful".

He believed, however, that Drumcree could become a "turning point" for peace in Northern Ireland if people accepted the message of Jesus Christ.

After the parade had moved on, the 19th-century blackstone church and its surrounds quickly returned to normal. But yards away in a largely Protestant area, a new banner gave a sombre reminder of the deep sectarian divide in the town, proclaiming: "There are no nationalist areas in Portadown - they are just temporarily occupied."