In July 1998 sectarian violence flared again, this time over a decision to ban an Orange Order march in Drumcree, Portadown. On July 12th Loyalists firebombed a house in Dunloy, Ballymoney, killing three boys aged between eight and ten. The following day Reverend William Bingham, a Presbyterian minister in County Tyrone, addressed his parishioners and condemned sectarian violence:

“After last night’s atrocious act, a 15-minute walk down the Garvaghy Road by the Orange Order would be a very hollow victory, because it would be in teh shadow of three coffins of little boys who wouldn’t even know what the Orange Order is about.

As I stood at Drumcree this week, I asked myself this question: Brethren, where are we going? And where are we allowing ourselves to be led?

The throwing of blast bombs at the Royal Ulster Constabulary, is that Orangeism? If it is, I will have no part of it. The verbal attacks on people who think differently than we do. Is that Orangeism? If it is, I will have no part of it. The violence that we’ve seen, if that’s Orangeism then many of us here will have no part of it.

You and I know know it’s not Orangeism. You and I know that we have done our utmost and our best to make sure that all protests are non-violent and peaceful… but last night there was the evidence that things have got out of control, that we can no longer control the situation. And the great fear is that things will get worse and that more children’s lives will be lost.

Put yourself in the place of that family in Ballymoney. If that was your home, your children, your grandchildren, how would you feel today? How would you feel about the people who, out of principle, did that? No road is worth a life.”