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(Issued to Belfast Newsletter) |
Although the recent Drumcree support parade passed off
without any noticeable incident, it could however have been totally
different.
As a coach, containing women, children and a flute band
from Coleraine arrived in Portadown, the driver who was unsure of which
way to go, asked a RUC man for directions.
The driver followed the instructions he was given but
unbeknown to him and the coaches occupants, these instructions took them
towards the Garvaghy Road, where unbelievably, a Police and Army roadblock
was moved to let them gain entry.
When the 'mistake' was realised by the Security Forces,
the coach was directed into a cul-de-sac to wait.
Inevitably the coach was attacked by nationalist
residents who threw bottles and half empty beer cans, while three men
attempted to gain entry into the boot of the coach.
Many of those on the coach said afterwards that the
scene reminded them of the incident involving the two soldiers in West
Belfast in 1988.
It was extremely fortunate that the Parachute Regiment
soldiers on duty were alert and quickly cleared a passage for the coach to
escape before any serious damage occurred.
The children especially were greatly shocked and
distressed by the experience.
Finally it is worth stating that a formal complaint was immediately
registered with the RUC
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