THE Northern Secretary, Dr Mowlam, has said the intransigence she met on both sides had made a "sensible accommodation" impossible on the Garvaghy Road."
She told journalists outside Stormont Castle yesterday morning that the "vast majority" of people in the North had wanted that sensible accommodation, and she and the RUC Chief Constable, Mr Ronnie Flanagan, had done their "utmost" to achieve it. She supported the Chief Constable's judgment that "the public safety of all the people in Northern Ireland is better protected by this decision
In a statement, she said it was "a sad day for all of us". She urged people with influence in their communities "to exercise restraint. Northern Ireland has seen far too many tragedies. Peace and the preservation of life in the end matters most of all.
"I know many in the nationalist community will be angered by this decision. It has been dictated by circumstances. I would have preferred it otherwise. Nevertheless, I appeal to all in the nationalist community to understand that overall public safety across Northern Ireland has to be the Chief' Constable's main concern.
"Your voice is not ignored. I understand your feelings and will address them in legislating on this issue. I am only sorry that option was not open to me this summer."
Dr Mowlam said "most people accept that the current way of dealing with these disputes is not, adequate". The new legislation on parades to be brought forward next year, based on the North Commission's report, would "provide the basis for our new approach".
Asked whether the Taoiseach's statements last week had been unhelpful, Dr Mowlam said: "I think sometimes they are perceived by people in the Unionist community to be unhelpful.
"I think the Taoiseach stated very clearly that he obviously has his own view but he would support us in the conclusions that we reached."
She appreciated that it was sometimes difficult for Mr Ahern because of "domestic politics" but said he had been "fully supportive throughout".
She "fully comprehended" the "deep disappointment" expressed by the Irish Government and said she and Mr Flanagan shared it.
Dr Mowlam rejected the charge that she had betrayed the nationalist community. She said she had met 250 Orangemen on Friday night "trying to get the argument across" and had talked on the phone to Garvaghy Road residents on Saturday afternoon to see if there was "any chance of movement by the residents".
She said she had faced two intransigent groups of people who had not been prepared to move, and in such a situation "you must make a decision for them because they are not prepared to move themselves".
Asked whether she accepted that she would now be persona non grate in nationalist areas, Dr Mowlam said if that was the case, she would "continue to work to rebuild trust and confidence - not in me, whether they believe in me is irrelevant" - but between the two communities.
"I've been here two months. I've done my best. One advantage of the Parades Commission is that it will have the full year."
She said she could not force people to accommodate with each other.
Asked how the Drumcree stand-off could be avoided next year, she said the Parades Commission would have "a broader set of criteria that will decide the issue".
She said the decision to allow the Orangemen to march had been left so late because of last-minute attempts at accommodation and "to try to hope that in the end common sense would prevail".
She denied that there had been any differences between her, Mr Flanagan and the British army commander in the North, and would not elaborate on the Chief Constable's security information that if the parade had been banned Catholic lives would have been in danger.