6 July 2003

March passes off peacefully

The Orangemen marched to the security barrier

The annual Orange Order parade in Drumcree passed off peacefully amid tight security. A delegation from Portadown District Orange Lodge marched to a security barrier where they were stopped from returning to Portadown via the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road. The Orangemen handed a letter of protest to a police chief superintendent at the barrier. The parade then dispersed. Later on Sunday the security operation was scaled down.

7 July 2002

Angry clashes at Drumcree barrier

Trouble flares after march ban

Twenty-five police officers are injured during clashes with loyalists - including some wearing Orange Order collarettes - after the Drumcree parade ends peacefully. They attack police guarding the steel barrier that is put in place to prevent the parade going into the nationalist Garvaghy Road area. A few plastic bullets are fired and at least two civilians are hurt.

 The BBC's Denis Murray reports

9 July 2001

Minor trouble after peaceful march

Petrol bombs thrown in minor disturbances

Amid a massive security operation, the parade itself passed off peacefully. A huge steel and concrete security barrier had been put in place to prevent the Orangemen from proceeding down the Garvaghy Road. Some loyalist protesters later threw petrol bombs at security forces, but the Royal Ulster Constabulary described the trouble as "minor".

 The BBC's Nick Bryant reports

9 July 2000

Drumcree march draws thousands

Soldiers monitor the barrier at Drumcree

Hundreds of protesters remain close to the barricade erected by security forces to stop the Orange Order's Drumcree parade, but the march itself passes off peacefully. However, the Portadown District Lodge says it will not leave after failing to hand in a letter of protest to security forces who prevented them from entering the nationalist Garvaghy Road area of the town.

 The BBC's Denis Murray reports

12 July 1999

Security tight for controversial march

Troops were prepared for the worst

Minor disturbances flared after loyalist protesters broke through security fencing, in what was a relatively quiet year at Drumcree. More than 1,700 extra troops were drafted into Northern Ireland, and police officers were provided with water cannon. Fields were ploughed up, miles of barbed wire were erected and sand bags were used to dam a stream.

 Click here to watch the report by the BBC's Denis Murray

6 July 1998

Orangemen turned back at barrier

Orangemen march up to police lines

Thousands of Orangemen are turned away from a massive barricade as they try to complete their annual Orange Parade down the nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown. They asked to hand a letter of protest to a senior police officer but there was no one there to accept it.

 The BBC's Denis Murray reports

8 July 1997

Mowlam faces criticism over Orange marches

Mo Mowlam was once popular with local residents

Orangemen march at Drumcree amid a heavy police presence. The two sides are kept apart by defences erected by the RUC. Secretary of State Mo Mowlam is criticised by nationalist residents, who accuse her of washing her hands of the parades issue.

 Click here to watch the report by the BBC's Martha Kearney

11 July 1996

Siege at Drumcree ends in violence

Protesters block the Orangemen's path

About 1,000 marchers pass down Portadown's Garvaghy Road following five days of impasse. More than 10,000 Orangemen protested at the blockade when they were prevented from marching through the nationalist area. When the army removed the barrier, demonstrators from the Garvaghy Road estate blocked the loyalists' route.

 Click here to watch the report by the BBC's Kate Adie

11 July 1995

Orangemen march in silence

The RUC blocked the march route for two days

Orangemen march silently through a mainly nationalist area near Drumcree after two days of confrontation with the RUC. The Portadown parade went ahead peacefully in the end and followed its traditional route, despite an earlier decision by the RUC to blockade the stretch of road.