This document contains a briefing on the current situation in Northern Ireland with the on-going standoff at Portadown, written by Rachael Reynolds, a civil servant in the British Government, for the reference of John Major, the British Prime Minister, dated 7 July 1996. Reynolds wrote that in aftermath of the RUC's [Royal Ulster Constabulary] decision to re-route the loyalist march, 800 peaceful marchers and 200 other people had gathered in town centre. Reynolds said that Ian Paisley, leader of the DUP [Democratic Unionist Party], had called her and expressed concern about the possibility of people forcefully being removed from the church, and that he would not be responsible for what were to happen if the Government went ahead with it. He had also asked for a meeting with the Prime Minister as soon as possible. Reynolds also wrote that David Trimble [leader of the Ulster Unionist Party] and Martin Smyth [Grand Master of the Orange Order] were on ground, and that while Smyth was trying to make things calm, Trimble was being unhelpful.
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