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NORTHERN IRELAND Chief Constable Hugh Orde has been attacked
for gross irresponsibility and sticking his head in the sand
over the threat of violence surrounding Saturday's Whiterock
Orange parade.
Belfast County Orange Grand Master Dawson Bailie today accused
Mr. Orde of "deliberately dodging" a meeting to
discuss security fears arising from the Parades Commission
decision to ban Orangemen from their traditional parade route
along the Springfield Road.
"When I initially contacted a senior PSNI officer and
told him it was imperative that we met with the Chief Constable
today", said Mr. Bailie "I was told he was too busy
meeting political parties to see me. I subsequently spoke
to leading Unionist politicians none of whom knew anything
about a meeting with the PSNI. Given that Mr. Orde and Sinn
Fein/IRA don't talk to each other and I know of no meeting
with the SDLP, you can't blame me for thinking that the Chief
Constable was simply trying to avoid the Orange Order.
"When I later heard that another Loyal Order delegation
had cancelled their planned appointment with Mr. Orde today,
I again contacted the PSNI and asked if I could take their
place only to be told that the Chief Constable was not prepared
under any circumstances to change his diary to meet with me.
"The Parades Commission ruling on the Whiterock parade
is potentially one of the most serious threats to law and
order in Belfast in recent years. For the Chief Constable
not to be prepared even to discuss ways in which tensions
might be reduced is a shameful dereliction of his duties and
an insult to the citizens of Belfast."
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