State papers: Government ‘could not guarantee’ power would be maintained in Drumcree dispute

However, it was also stated that widespread power cuts were not anticipated as power workers "had no stomach to be used as the storm troops in a battle with the Government". Newly-declassified state papers reveal the extensive security planning which went in to preparing for "Drumcree IV" during the summer of 1998.

This was the first year that the newly-formed Parades Commission ruled that the contentious parade could not proceed along the Garvaghy Road in Portadown. Prior to the determination, the files reveal a confidential memo sent from SJ Leach, associate director policing and security at the NIO on June 24 raising concerns about power supplies.

He said: "After the rehearsals of the last two years, DED (Department of Economic Development) will doubtless have at an advanced state of readiness its contingency plans to maintain electricity supplies in the event of politically-motivated industrial action arising from Drumcree.

"In this context it may be worth mentioning to you that a member of the Parades Commission, for whose judgment and common-sense I have considerable respect, has heard from what is described as a very reliable source that (on the assumption of a negative decision by the Commission) a number of power station workers are planning to walk out next Friday (3 July) taking with them a range of essential components whose absence would make electricity generation impractical in the short term.

"This story may well turn out to have no foundation, but you might wish to check with DED that the power generators would be able to cope with this contingency if it arose." In a response the following day, Doreen Brown, from the central secretariat, said she had spoken with the DED about the matter. She said: "In the event of industrial action at power stations, managers would be able to keep power stations operating for a certain time, but the Government cannot guarantee that electricity supplies could be maintained.

"In the past the Government could have used the Army to man power stations but, because of the complexity of modern stations, the Army does not have the expertise to take over power generation. "DED has checked with Ballylumford (power station) and has been told that there is no suggestion that workers are planning to walk out. "The rumour of industrial action had circulated pre-Drumcree last year but came to nothing.

"The power workers had no stomach to be used as the storm troops in a battle with the Government. "The other positive point is that it is not possible for power workers to remove essential components, thus making electricity generation impractical."