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| Friday, 12 July, 2002, 13:09 GMT 14:09 UK What they said on the Twelfth ![]() Tens of thousands march on 12 July Orangemen have paraded to 19 venues across Northern Ireland for the climax of the Protestant marching season. BBC News Online takes a look at what was said at some of the main rallies to celebrate the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. Dollingstown, County Down Grand Master of the Orange Order Robert Saulters hit out at members who had been involved in violence at Drumcree last Sunday. "There is absolutely no excuse for what happened at Drumcree this year," he said.
Those who had taken part in the disturbances had "shamed our institution" with violence which was "deplorable", he said. It was something the Order "does not and will not accept", said Mr Saulters. But he added that given the events Northern Ireland had witnessed over the past 30 years, the media frenzy surrounding what happened on Drumcree hill "beggared belief". Newtownhamilton, County Armagh Orange Order executive officer George Patton also condemned the Drumcree violence. But he said the organisation needed to seek answers to fundamental questions.
"We have to look at what prompted normally law-abiding citizens to act in the way that they did," he said. "I know of some of those who were caught up in events last Sunday and what happened was totally out of character." Mr Patton put it down to "frustration, hurt and anger born out of the current situation". Edenderry, Belfast Orange Order imperial secretary John McCrea launched an attack on Sinn Fein. He said there was no place in government for politicians who "had not in word and deed renounced violence for political and other purposes".
He said he and many people in Northern Ireland "feel let down and realise that lies have been told to meet the occasion", four years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and following assurances from Tony Blair. Mr McCrea asked: "Were the people of Northern Ireland conned?" Answering his own question, he said: "Many now believe they were and Mr Blair has failed to deliver on his promises". Lisburn, County Antrim Hardline Ulster Unionist Jeffrey Donaldson said "nothing short of the expulsion" of Sinn Fein from government in Northern Ireland would "rekindle unionist confidence" in the peace process. He said the day of reckoning for the peace process had arrived and the sooner everyone faced up to that fact the better. "We are entitled to ask the question of Tony Blair why Sinn Fein ministers are still in the government of Northern Ireland when there is incontrovertible evidence that the IRA are continuing to use and threaten violence on the streets and engaged in re-arming and international terrorism," he said.
Mr Donaldson recalled his party leader David Trimble had set a deadline of 24 July for government action against the republican movement and was prepared to resign as Northern Ireland First Minister if Mr Blair failed to act. Words alone "would not suffice", he said. "Nothing short of the exclusion of Sinn Fein/IRA from ministerial office will do." | See also: 12 Jul 02 | N Ireland 12 Jul 02 | N Ireland 11 Jul 02 | N Ireland 11 Jul 02 | N Ireland 08 Jul 00 | N Ireland Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top N Ireland stories now: Links to more N Ireland stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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