Thousands of spectators attended a parade and mock fight in Scarva, Co Down, yesterday, one of the main events in the loyalist marching calendar.
The centrepiece, the mock battle between the armies of King William and King James, had a predictable outcome as 70 Royal Black preceptories and bands from Co Armagh and Co Down were joined by their counterparts from Belfast, Larne and Limavady. They were addressed by the Sovereign Grand Master of the Royal Black Institution, Mr William Logan, who condemned those carrying out acts of violence in the name of loyalism.
"Violence is wrong; it is evil - whether it is physical violence or the violence of the spoken word; whether it is the work of so-called paramilitary groups or of a private army fronted by a political party craving for respectability," he said, adding that things were being said and done, allegedly in the name of loyalty, which brought "no credit on the cause of Ulster Protestantism and loyalism".
He did, however, acknowledge that his institution's condemnation may have little effect on those involved in violence. "Violence is symptomatic and indicative of the changing values in society today. The fabric of society disintegrates when morality is turned on its head, evildoers are rewarded, law-abiding citizens and their wishes are disregarded and when the law is ignored and justice is reversed for political expediency."
Mr Logan said the RUC was a force "demoralised" and "castrated" by the two governments' attempts to meet the demands of violent organisations.