Tensions on Garvaghy Road spill into council chamber

Something of the tension generated on Portadown’s Garvaghy Road in recent weeks manifested at the last meeting of the Monaghan Municipal District when FG councillor Pauric Clerkin claimed that an individual known to be a SF election activist commented on social media that there is “room in Bragan bog” for the Orangemen endeavouring to march through the mainly Catholic area.

The assertion drew a sharp reaction from the Sinn Fein MD members who had tabled a motion of support for the Garvaghy Road residents.

A claim by Cllr Bronagh McAree (SF) that the Irish Government failed to support the Garvaghy residents was rejected by MD Cathaoirleach Cllr Alan Johnston (FG) who said the Government has been active behind the scenes in the matter.

The SF motion asked the MD to convey solidarity with the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition, oppose any Orange Order parade imposed against their wishes and call on the Parades Commission and British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Sir Chris Bryant MP to “uphold residents’ rights and protect peace”.

Initially Cllr McAree indicated that SF was happy to let the motion stand on the agenda without debate in light of events since it was tabled, with the Northern Secretary banning the parade from proceeding down the nationalist area because of security concerns conveyed by the PSNI.

However, Cllr Seamus Treanor (Ind) proceeded to make a detailed statement of support for the motion, recalling the “21 innocent people who lost their lives” during the height of the parade dispute in the late 1990s and declaring: “It beggars belief that a small, insignificant unelected individual by the name of Jimmy Bryson could lead the North back to the bad old days of violence.”

Cllr Treanor was highly critical of BBC broadcaster Stephen Nolan for permitting DUP leader Gavin Robinson to make “unfounded allegations regarding the Garvaghy Road residents” on his TV current affairs programme, including claims that residents had guns and petrol bombs to attack Orangemen if the parade went ahead.

“There was not a shred of evidence to back up this story,” the Independent councillor said, praising Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD for a subsequent radio interview in which he strongly refuted the remarks.

“What really made me sick,” Cllr Treanor continued, “was to see some of the shower that turned up on the Garvaghy Road".

He said Sinn Fein reps have every right to be there as they are the biggest political party in the North.

"But imagine Paul Murphy of People Before Profit arriving to show support for the residents when, on this side of the border, where 200, 300 and up to 600 illegal migrants have been foisted on small villages and towns against residents’ wishes, he gave with other parties full support to the Government to destroy communities. What a bloody hypocrite!”

Cllr Treanor concluded by stating that last year’s Irish presidential election was not a great occasion for those advocating for a united Ireland.

“The attack by the mainstream media on our local retired Minister Heather Humphreys and her family was scandalous. To me, Heather is a great Irishwoman, was a brilliant Minister and the attacks were over the top.”

Cllr McAree said it is a disgrace they are talking about this situation at all after they believed this problem had been put to bed after all the lives lost and damage to infrastructure and property in the past.

She added that she had been on the Garvaghy Road “day in and day out” during the recent tensions and never saw any sign of violence, disturbance or aggression.

Cllr McAree pointed out, however, that People Before Profit have elected representatives in the North and have the same right to be on the Garvaghy Road as anyone else.

Cllr Clerkin said he is 100% behind the motion but has seen people known to campaign for SF during elections talk online about their being “room in Bragan Bog” for the Orangemen wishing to march down Garvaghy Road and suggesting “let them go down the Garvaghy Road and set off a landmine”.

“Are these elected people?” Cllr McAree asked.

“No,” replied Cllr Clerkin, “but they are people who knock on doors and represent your party and it’s important this be said. We do not want to go back to these days but we need a wider conversation around that.”

Cllr McAree said the government parties of FF and FG hadn’t shown support for the people of the Garvaghy Road.

“We need to have grown-up conversations around a united Ireland,” Cllr Clerkin stated.

“We need a government that leads the way,” responded Cllr McAree.

The Cathaoirleach insisted that the Irish Government, including Minister for Foreign Affairs, Helen McEntee, did engage on this issue, engage with residents and are deeply concerned.

Cllr Seán Conlon said that some of the comments in the debate have been “amplified beyond reason”, adding: “You will always get social media contributions like this. Haters are going to hate. If you let this tiny minority set the agenda and the narrative, we will never go anywhere on any issue."

Last week, a Belfast court has ruled that the Northern Secretary, Chris Bryant, made a lawful decision when he banned the Drumcree parade.

A barrister for the Orange Order indicated an appeal was "likely".