FOLLOWING the suspension of Saturday evening Masses at the Church of Our Lady at Harryville in Ballymena, Co Antrim, loyalists have called a halt to their 41 week protest. The protest was initiated after a loyalist parade at the nearby nationalist village of Dunloy was stopped last September.
A representative of the "Harryville Residents' Committee" said the future of the protest was under consideration, depending on developments over the summer. But he confirmed the protest would continue at alternative venues, naming a number of Catholic churches in the Ballymena area.
On Saturday evening, a group of around 30 protesters presented a wreath to RUC Supt Roger McCallum, while Mass went ahead as usual just across the street.
In a reference to the killing of Constables David Johnston and John Graham in Lurgan last Monday, they said the gesture was a token of condolence to the memory of the two police officers who were murdered by the enemies of our country - IRA/Sinn Fein.
"We would like it to be known that the protesters are not there to fight with the RUC, but just to highlight the absolute disgust that we feel about the banning of loyalist parades in Dunloy and elsewhere." The protesters then dispersed.
Supt McCallum said: "I would say that any gesture which seeks to defuse tension in the area and particularly in the town at this moment, is welcome. Certainly it is always good to see people taking a responsible approach towards issues which concern us all."
Meanwhile, inside the Harryville church, Canon Sean Connolly announced that the Saturday evening Mass would be suspended until September 6th. He said it was for "the greater good of the community" and hoped the gesture would be reciprocated.
It is also understood the RUC could not guarantee the safety of Massgoers during the marching season.
Speaking after Mass, the SDLP's North Antrim representative, Mr Sean Farren, said the suspension of Mass was "a significant contribution to the lowering of tension at a time of considerable difficulty throughout the community".
He continued: "A congregation which has the right to exercise its right to worship is forgoing that right in order to contribute to a lowering of tension generally and I think in that sense it's a very exemplary step."
The RUC Chief Constable, Mr Ronnie Flanagan, commended the action. "I think it's a most sincere gesture by the congregation, a very positive step it's certainly not one we would have sought.
"If you look at the motivation behind that gesture, it's a really genuine, sincere effort to reduce tension, and therefore it has to be welcomed. I would like to see that sort of generosity of spirit, that regard for others, being repeated."
But the Harryville protesters representative interpreted the suspension of Mass as a "ploy to release police to other areas to batter Protestants". He also criticised the RUC handling of a banned parade through Harryville two weeks ago, which erupted into a riot.
"The RUC didn't listen to the parade organisers, who said that a low police presence would have meant no trouble. We would like the RUC to clear roads to allow Orangemen to walk to their services by force if necessary."
Three SDLP representatives in Co Antrim issued a joint statement yesterday describing the decision to suspend the Masses as "a courageous and exemplary".
"It marks a significant contribution to the lowering of tension in the immediate area at a time when tensions could be raised even higher than they have been. Such a decision must be seen as a very courageous one and also as an example for other areas facing difficult decisions over contentious parades and demonstrations.
"In our society far too much weight is placed on exercising rights and too little on the responsibilities for the common goods which the exercise of those rights can entail. In Harryville, a congregation which, under considerable pressure, has calmly exercised its right to worship has now determined that, for the common good, it should suspend the exercise of that right."
The Sinn Fein chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, said the decision was "understandable given the heightened tension and threats." He said: "This decision is the outcome of 40 weeks of intimidation, violence and threats. It is an indictment of the unionist leaders who failed to confront their own people and demand an end to this disgraceful event.
"It is also evidence of the inability of the RUC to face up to the harsh reality of Orange intimidation.
He added: "What is needed now more than ever before is a calm, commonsense approach based on dialogue which can find an accommodation between the loyalist institutions and local residents."
The Lower Ormeau Concerned Community described as "shameful" the fact that loyalist protest had forced the suspension of the Masses.