Alert Fails To Disrupt Royal Visit

Despite a hoax bomb alert and a republican protest, the Queen's visit to Armagh yesterday was heralded as a successful conclusion to the Sovereign's three-day Northern Ireland trip.

The earlier security alert was quickly declared a hoax after army technical officers carried out a controlled explosion on two suspect objects that had been found in the Friary Road area of the city.

These events failed to prevent a landmark Maundy Thursday ceremony in Armagh - the first time it has been held outside England and Wales in 700 years.

The leaders of the four main Churches joined together in St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh for the event at which the Queen handed out 82p in special 1p, 2p, 3p and 4p sterling silver coins – a penny for each year of her life – to 164 pensioners from across the Province.

Her gifts, in red and white purses with ribbons, were carried on a silver platter by the Queen's yeomen, who bore ceremonial swords and wore red uniforms, hats with ribbons and traditional oversized white collars.

However, in a separate incident, up to 40 protestors - who identified themselves as members of a group called Eirigi - were reported to have gathered in the English Street area to voice their opposition to her visit.

In a statement, a spokesman said it was "completely unacceptable" that a visit by the "commander-in-chief of Britain's armed forces" should be viewed as a glorious symbol of peace in Northern Ireland.

He added: "Britain's understanding of peace in Ireland, Afghanistan or anywhere else they have occupied has always been one of continued occupation without resistance.

"This analysis was at the heart of their infamous 'normalisation strategy', which they now hope is coming to fruition."

(BMcC)