SCUFFLES brake out during a loyalist band parade in Newry, Co Down, last night. Loyalists and nationalists were just yards from each other, separated by three rows of RUC Land Rovers and police officers in riot gear.
The parade, involving 24 loyalist bands, went ahead after two hours of negotiations.
Local RUC officers had met the Newry Coalition Against Sectarian Marches. The group was protesting against the parade which traditionally passed through the centre of the town, past the town hall and out again.
From 5.30 p.m. yesterday, nationalists gathered outside the town hall to protest, holding placards saying "No consent, no parade". By 8.30 pm, the RUC separated the two sides on Trevor Hill, a couple of hundred yards from the town hall.
The loyalist bands marched from Newry Orange Hall as far as the rear of the RUC blockade. On the other side, the crowd of 500 nationalists was held back by coalition stewards who linked arms and the RUC officers.
Just after 5.45 p.m., the RUC blocked access to the roads leading from the town hall to the opposite side of the town. A short time later, about 60 nationalists broke through over Stone Bridge and were heading up Trevor Hill Road before they were stopped again by the RUC.
Chief Insp Robert Peadlow negotiated with the spokesman for the coalition, Mr Gary Joyce, and its chairman, Mr John McCabe. He told them he wanted to avoid "serious public disorder" and asked the group to move back to Stone Bridge, saying it was a "reasonable compromise". It was eventually agreed the nationalist group could stand about 40 yards from the bridge on Trevor Hill.
Mr Joyce said they were holding a "peaceful protest". Their request for face to face negotiations with parade organisers had been ignored, he said. "If they had spoken to us we could have avoided this. We are not against marching but there must be consent," said Mr Joyce.
During the parade, loyalist supporters, who appeared to have come through the nationalist group from behind, were attacked when they taunted the crowd. The RUC restored order using batons and shields. On a few occasions bottles were thrown.
The first band, the organising band, the South Down Young Defenders, began marching at about 8.25 p.m. A number of people gathered on the banks of the Clanrye river to support the marchers.
A member of the Commons Silver Band said the parade organisers were "unhappy" about being rerouted from the town hall but "didn't want any trouble".