NORTHERN IRELAND: WEEKEND OF MARCHES ENDS PEACEFULLY

(12 Aug 1996) A tense weekend of demonstrations in Northern Ireland ended peacefully Monday.
After a lengthy standoff, a Protestant march was allowed to pass through a largely Roman Catholic village without incident.
Police and clergymen brokered an end to a 20-hour confrontation between pro-Irish Catholics and Protestants loyal to Britain.
The parade then moved through the village of Bellaghy with none of the violence that had been feared.
Early morning in Bellaghy on day two of the tense stand off, proof that religious tensions continue to bedevil Northern Ireland.
Members of the Royal Black Preceptory -- pro-British and strongly Protestant -- stand waiting to march, separated by police from nationalist protestors gathered further up the road.
The small village of Bellaghy -- about 30 miles (50 km) northwest of Belfast -- was the scene of tension between Protestant marchers and Catholic residents.
The long, cool night and lack of sleep was beginning to take its toll on the morale of the police and protestors alike.
On the loyalist side, the mood of supporters showed no sign of compromise.
UPSOUND:
"I'm British -- born British and by the grace of God, I'll die British. Never give in."
SUPER CAPTION; vox pop loyalist supporter
But behind the scenes, negotiators from both sides were close to a deal that would break the deadlock and secure a peaceful resolution.
A spokesman for the residents confirmed that agreement had been reached.
SOUNDBITE:
"We, the Bellaghy Concerned Residents, have just now given our consent for the Royal Black Perceptory, to parade as far as the Orange Hall."
SUPER CAPTION: Paul Smith, Bellaghy Concerned Residents
As the parade started, Royal Ulster Constabulary Deputy Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagn helped supervise police operations.
When the marchers reached the Orange Hall, the parade turned around as protestors watched in silence.
Leaders of the loyalists marchers were angry their traditional celebrations had been disrupted.
SOUNDBITE:
"Well understandably, I am most annoyed by virtue of the fact that I came to this village in which I live yesterday to help my brother Sir Knights organise our church parade and I was prevented from going to church."
SUPER CAPTION: Robert Overend, Royal Black Perceptory
Some residents hope Monday's compromise means there will be no lasting damage to community relations.
SOUNDBITE:
"I hope not now anyway because we've got some very, very, nice Protestant neighbours and friends. I have a lot of friends and they're Protestants you know, so let's hope still that we remain so. You know there might be a wee bit of difference for a week or so but after that it will die over."
SUPER CAPTION: Mary Anne Muldoon
Many in Northern Ireland now hope examples set recently in Londonderry and in Bellaghy, are the way of the future.
They hope negotiations will continue to triumph over confrontation for what remains of the marching season.
In two weeks time that hope will be tested when another loyalist parade is scheduled to proceed through Bellaghy.
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