Contents

Eventful week in Derry

The past week has been an eventful one in Derry as the repercussions of the decision of the RUC to force the Orange parade down the Garvaghy Road worked themselves out.

Tuesday night (8 July) saw one of the largest public meetings ever held in the city. The venue was the Pilot's Row Community Centre and it is estimated that upto 700 people attended the meeting which was called by the Bogside Residents' Group. The mood of the meeting was angry and determined in response to the events of the Garvaghy Road. Guest speaker was Gerard Rice of the Lower Ormeau Concerned Residents' who was clearly embarrassed by the warmth of the reception he received. Both he and Donncha Mac Niallais of the Bogside Residents' spoke of the need for a mature political response to the events and the need to build the widest possible base of support. This precluded violence and all the speakers called on young people to desist from rioting. It was also announced that the Bogside Residents' Group would be calling for a mass mobilisation in the "city centre" for Friday night.

Thursday night (10 July) saw another meeting in Pilot's Row. This was with young people in which members of the Bogside Residents' group explained the need for a disciplined and nonviolent response to events.

Friday (11 July). The Bogside Residents' Group announced that they were calling off all their demonstrations in the light of the decision by the Orange Order not to parade down the Lower Ormeau Road and not to parade in Derry City Centre.

Saturday (12 July). Orangemen and Loyalists block London Street in the city centre to prevent local Orange Lodges from parading from the Apprentice Boys' Hall into the Fountain and across the bridge to where the buses awaited to take them to Limavady. Scuffles break out involving Orangemen who supported the decision to re-route and those who didn't. In the event the parade was sent down past the Diamond, through Ferryquay Street and Carlisle Road. Many local nationalists in Derry viewed this as a breach of trust and responded to the BRG's call for people to gather in the Diamond to prevent a repeat parade when the Lodges returned form Limavady. In fact no Orange parades took place on the west bank and the mobilisation in the Diamond ended at approximately 8.00 pm. Half and hour later small scale rioting broke out between youths and RUC officers in and around Butcher Street and the Diamond.

Róisín McAliskey remanded until August

Róisín McAliskey has again been refused bail and had been remanded in custody until 5 August. She is being held at Maudsley Hospital near London due to ill-health. The decision to refuse bail was taken at Bow Street Magistrate's Court on Tuesday (8 July). The bail hearing lasted less than five minutes during which the magistrate Mr Ronald Bartle, examined a medical report. It is understood that further medical and psychiatric reports are likely to be prepared at the courts request. Róisín has been held at Maudsley Hospital since the birth of her daughter Loinnir in May.

Plastic Bullets ban is called for

Relatives of the young 14 year boy, Gary Lawlor, who was seriously injured by a plastic bullet fired by RUC officers have called for a world wide ban on their use. The appeal for a ban was issued by Gary's cousin Janet Donnelly on Monday (7 July). In August 1981 Janet's uncle Peter Maginnis was killed when he was hit in the chest by a plastic bullet near his Greencastle home. The family is also calling for the RUC member who fired the shot at Gary to be charged with attempted murder.

The 14 year old was hit by a plastic bullet in the Lenadoon district of Belfast on Sunday night (6 July) as street fighting broke out after the RUC forced the Orange parade down the Garvaghy Road.

Speaking for all the members of the family, Janet Donnelly said: "Our family is now calling on the British Government to ban the use of plastic bullets before any other Irish children or citizens are killed on our streets. "

Meanwhile the head of the RUC Ronnie Flanagan has announced that he has asked the Commission for Police Complaints to supervise an inquiry into the incident.

Women's Coalition criticises Mowlam and Flanagan

Following a meeting between the Women's Coalition and Mo Mowlam, the British Secretary of state for Northern Ireland, the Coalition issued a strongly worded statement criticising the Government and the RUC for its decision to force the Orange parade down the Garvaghy Road. They described the decision of Mr Flanagan, the RUC's Chief Constable as being a "devastating message" for Northern Ireland.

In a statement issued following the meeting Margaret Logue of the Women's Coalition said:

"Senator George Mitchell identified intransigence and the threat of violence as the two major obstacles to achieving peace in Northern Ireland. Sunday's events seem to give the message that intransigence and the threat of violence are the way to achieve goals. What are the prospects for long term peace when the government and security forces seem to be operating according to principles of containment rather than justice? The leaked document from the Northern Ireland Office indicates that Mo Mowlam has been working with a serious deficit of advice when it comes to the depth of nationalists' concerns. This document analyses measures needed to build confidence among Protestants but completely underestimates the extent of disaffection among Catholic nationalists. Equal consideration and concern should have been given to the concerns and confidence of both sides. The resulting policing decision was based on "might rather than right". It left no room for a decision based on an equal consideration of rights and on rewarding dialogue and compromise. While such a decision on these grounds might not have satisfied either side, it would have been more honourable. The Women's Coalition believes it would have earned the respect of people on both sides and across Northern Ireland."