UNIONIST claims that firearms and explosives were present on the Garvaghy Road during the recent stand-off between residents and the Orange Order have been branded “sensationalist and dangerous” by residents.
Last Friday evening the Secretary of State banned the Orange Order parade down the Garvaghy Road after a two-week protest by residents and their supporters. Last night on the Nolan Show on BBCNI DUP leader Gavin Robinson repeated claims that that decision was based on the threat of “violence, disorder and terror” adding that he has raised publicly “rumours” that “there were guns available on the streets”.
In a statement this afternoon Breandán Mac Cionnaith from the Garvaghy Road Residents’ Coalition said that "such sensationalist and dangerous claims are completely false", adding that they were "totally unfounded and are designed with the sole purpose of creating and heightening tensions, suspicions and fear".
"A number of petrol bombs made by a small group of local youths were recovered and subsequently destroyed by local residents two weeks ago during the initial days of the current situation. There has been absolutely no repeat of that incident," he said.
"Those making such unfounded wider allegations should refresh their own memories.
It is an undeniable fact that, in the immediate aftermath of previous unionist and loyalist protests, police and military units began a major search operation on Wednesday July 15 1998 at the site of those unionist and loyalist protests at Drumcree.
"Among the various weapons uncovered during those searches at Drumcree were: a home made machine gun; ammunition; explosive devices; material for making blast bombs and petrol bombs; and crossbows with home made explosive arrows.
"We would also remind the authors of such current and false sensationalist claims that, in the period from July 1996 until July 1999, a total of twenty-one people, including members of our own local community, lost their lives as a direct result of attacks carried out by those acting in support of the Orange Order’s stance at Drumcree."
