31 March - Tom King, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, announces his decision to ban the Apprentice Boys of Derry Easter Monday Parade, resulting in rioting in various parts of the country, police homes attacked with petrol bombs, and 11 Catholic homes petrol-bombed in Lisburn.[2] In Portadown, about 400 Apprentice Boys attempt to parade, leading to clashes with police and soldiers and rioting; meanwhile, about 3,000 Loyalists, led by Ian Paisley, assemble in protest at Garvaghy Road, and police are attacked there also. Sporadic rioting continues for several days.[2]
6 June - John Stalker is removed from the 'shoot to kill' inquiry.
3 July - The RUC allows an Orange Church parade to pass through the Catholic Obins Street area of Portadown (the "Tunnel"), but prohibits the 12 and 13 July parades from doing so.[2]
6 July - Rioting breaks out when police prevent George Seawright, a Loyalist politician, from passing through the "Tunnel" area.[2]
11 July - The Portadown Orangemen accept a compromise offered by the RUC to march along the Garvaghy Road route, resulting in a weekend of violence, with casualties including 128 police injuries, 66 civilian injuries and 127 arrests. The riots continue in Belfast and Portadown for six consecutive nights.[2]
22 August - John Stalker, deputy chief constable of Greater Manchester police, is cleared of misconduct over allegations of associating with criminals.
