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Writing Peace: The National Archives of the UK (TNA)

Record of a British Government meeting on Drumcree on 10 July 1996

Monday, 07 October 1996

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This document records a meeting between various members of the British Government and the RUC [Royal Ulster Constabulary] that took place on 10 July 1996, regarding the Drumcree crisis. The Chief Constable [Hugh Annesley] of the RUC indicated that the Orange Order leaders were unwilling to move from their position, and that Mo Mowlam [Shadow Secretary for Northern Ireland] had indicated to him that she felt that someone like Cardinal Cahal Daly could influence the Garvaghy Road Residents Group. He further stated that, while the current situation was peaceful, violence the preceding night had raised tensions somewhat, and that it would be difficult to prevent a larger crowd from gathering at Drumcree. He felts that there were two options available - to reach an accommodation, or for the RUC to stand firm with the decision they had taken already. In response to a question from Patrick Mayhew [Secretary of State for Northern Ireland], the Chief Constable said that he did not have as much personnel as he needed, and that he felt that they would not be able to hold position for more than three to four days. He also stated that while live ammunition would be avoided if it came to a situation in which the Garvaghy Road estates had to be protected, they might be used if a "life or death confrontation" ended up emerging. John Chilcot [Permanent Under Secretary] proposed an accommodation in which the RUC could let the parade pass Garvaghy Road, against the background of an independent review. The Chief Constable said that any accommodation would have to be in place by noon the next day, otherwise the RUC would have to impose a solution. They discussed the possibility of risk to life within the RUC and reaffirmed the need for the Government to do everything it could to simulate an accommodation. The Chief Constable agreed to see Cardinal Daly before the church leaders' next meeting.

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