Rebels call for Orange free state at hall rally

By Niall Blaney, 18 November 1995. Comment appended.

REBEL Orangemen may set up their own bank and insurance company as the basis of an ‘Orange economy’ in Northern Ireland.

The plan was floated at a rally of 1,500 dissident loyalists in the Ulster Hall who demanded the resignation of order grand master the Rev Martin Smyth.

The so-called Spirit of Drumcree group heard a call to draw up a list of businessmen within the order with a view to creating an ‘Orange Pound’.

Speakers also urged more commercial use of Orange halls by hiring them out for social functions.

The proposals were made during last Tuesday's Ulster hall rally which attracted rebel Orangemen from all over the north.

A concerned member of the Order contacted the Irish News after attending the gathering which he described as Nazi-like and intimidating.

He said the meeting was totally undemocratic.

It passed six resolutions including dissociation with the Ulster Unionist Party, no talks with the IRA or Sinn Fein, an annual Orange congress and no voluntary re-routing of loyalist parades.

These were read out to journalists from a prepared statement, which had already been typed up and photocopied.

Personal attacks were made on Mr Smyth and a member of the audience reportedly shouted that he should be shot.

The worried Orangeman said: I was very concerned about that. The whole atmosphere was very intimidating—it was quite horrendous.

They spoke about standing up to the troops who would be put out to stop parades and about continuing with mass rallies. They also talked about ‘one Orangeman, one vote’ but for the resolutions there was no debate—it was completely undemocratic.

Everyone was on their feet because anyone who didn't support what was going on felt too intimidated to sit down—many of them were giving the impression of applause.

The irony was that there was no discussion, no democracy and yet they were calling for democracy. Questions and clarifications are allowed everywhere.

One member who put his hand up to object to one of the resolutions was barracked down.

One plan raised at the rally was for all district officers to meet at Orange House on the Dublin Road and march to Sinn Fein's headquarters to demand an apology for the Troubles.

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A charade,

We now see the Spirit of Drumcree, the solid base of Unionism, which is less than 1,500 dissident loyalists in the Ulster Hall who demanded the resignation of order grand master (and Brit M.P.) the Rev Martin Smyth, described as Nazi-like and intimidating, and totally undemocratic, calling for no talks with the IRA or Sinn Fein, an annual Orange congress and no voluntary re-routing of loyalist parades, and personal attacks. . . made on Mr Smyth and a member of the audience reportedly shouted that he should be shot.

They spoke about standing up to the (British) troops who would be put out to stop parades and about continuing with mass rallies, with one plan raised at the rally calling all district officers to meet at Orange House on the Dublin Road and march to Sinn Fein's headquarters to demand an apology for the Troubles.