At this time of year, those of us who are British are placed in an embarrassing position. For it is in this season that the descendants of people who emigrated three or four hundred years ago most proudly demonstrate what they believe to be their Britishness. There is nothing about them that we recognise as ours; save perhaps the bowler hats and umbrellas, both of which featured prominently in black and white British comedy films about civil servants. The rest of the outfit, cobbled together at the turn of the century with fashion tips from the freemasons, rings no bells at all. Neither does the passion for walking, which appears to be neither sponsored nor directed toward youth hostels.

Last year, however, when the Orangemen paraded down the Lower Ormeau Road in Belfast, there was one aspect of the event that suggested some kind of ethnic link with the people of this island. The Catholic residents stood aside, silently commemorating the murdered Quinn children, and allowing the men of the Ballynafeigh Loyal Orange Lodge to have their day. The Order agreed to silence their bands but insisted on the sound of a single drum. This drum was necessary, it was explained, in order for the marchers to keep time. And I found myself thinking that perhaps there is, after all, something British about these alien-looking men: they have so little sense of rhythm that they can't walk in a straight line without someone tapping out the beat for them.

This year, they are to be denied their fun, but how peaceful the 12th will be is anyone's guess. The Orange Order has a remarkable ability to prescribe the level of violence associated with its pantomime season. This year, Drumcree wasn't too bad. District Master Harold Gracie had demanded that this be so. This is the same Harold Gracie who spoke at a rally in support of Billy Wright, who had been threatened by the UVF leadership after ordering the murder of a Catholic taxi driver during Drumcree '96. Wright was active organising Loyalist demonstrations in Portadown, which involved barricading Catholics into their ghettos and murdering them at random. He was the darling of Orangeism and had several meetings with David Trimble. When Orangemen say they won't talk to a man with a criminal conviction, it depends very much on the man's politics.

Of course, they won't talk to Gerard Rice of the Lower Ormeau Concerned Community. His predecessor was a grandmother with no criminal record. She was spoken to; she received death threats and gave up the post. But, in terms of negotiating, Orangemen won't speak to anyone. If it happens that a residents' group contains someone who's been in jail, that fact is cited as a reason. But there are groups all over the North that have no ex-prisoners or Republicans at all, and the Order won't even answer their letters. That's the whole point; if it can't behave as it likes, the Order has no purpose.

So last weekend in Portadown, when Orangemen were receiving plaudits for restraint, an American woman observer on Garvaghy Road was pulled over a wall and hospitalised by marchers. Saturday evening Mass at St John's was disturbed by bandsmen who decided that the roundabout was a traditional and, of course, endless route. One of their newer traditions was to shout the name of Rosemary Nelson, along with those of Robert Hamill, who was kicked to death two years ago and Gavin Tennyson, one of several young Catholics who have committed suicide on the estate in recent months. A year under siege has taken its toll on people's spirits.

I have written about Robert Hamill before. Readers might remember that, while he was being booted by a large mob, four fully armed RUC officers sat close-by in their Land Rover. Another officer arrived and detained a man, inexplicably releasing him moments later despite an eyewitness's identification. The demand for an enquiry has been met with the traditional accusation of covert Republicanism. I shouldn't be surprised to hear Unionists and ex-paras claim that requests for information from National Rail Enquiries are orchestrated by the IRA.

So I was interested to hear the UUP recently announce that it has carried out its own investigation into the Hamill case. Apparently, the Unionists are fully satisfied with the RUC's conduct. Which aspects of the case they investigated I don't know, but none of the family or the witnesses have heard from them. Catholics, you see, have an agenda. Conversely, the RUC, having no interest to protect, can be relied upon to give an honest account, even if it develops slightly in the telling.

When Unionism closes ranks, it does so in an orderly fashion; people fall neatly into line, without anyone even having to bang the drum.

A benefit event to help the Hamill family's campaign will be held at the Jazz Café in Camden on July 19th. I shall be pleased to introduce Billy Bragg, Kirsty MacColl, Glenn Tillbrook, Junior Simpson, Kevin McAleer, Robert Newman and Jo Brand.
index