The Grand Master of the Orange Order has called for loyalist protests to be suspended today as a mark of respect to the motorcycle legend Joey Dunlop, whose funeral takes place in his hometown of Ballymoney, Co Antrim. A statement issued on behalf of Mr Robert Saulters by the Grand Lodge of Ireland said: "Friday should be correctly observed as a memorial to the late great Joey Dunlop OBE, MBE. As a motorcycling enthusiast, Mr Saulters paid personal tribute to a legend who had given him many hours of enjoyment and said that Joey Dunlop had been a tremendous ambassador for Northern Ireland."
Mr Dunlop died in a crash during a race in Estonia at the weekend. His family was forced to run the gauntlet of roadblocks and street protests when they attempted to bring his body back from Dublin airport to Ballymoney on Tuesday.
In his statement, Mr Saulters reiterated that there was no place for violent protest.
Today's funeral arrangements include a private service in Mr Dunlop's family home at 1.45 p.m. after which the funeral cortege will move to Garryduff Presbyterian Church where a public funeral service will take place. The burial at the church's cemetery will be private.
The RUC has put in place a traffic plan to cope with the large crowds expected to turn out for the ceremony.
A cavalcade of up to 300 motorcycles will travel today from Dublin to Ballymoney to attend Mr Dunlop's funeral.
The cavalcade's assembly point is the Papal Cross, Phoenix Park, and bikes will depart at 9.15 a.m. The route will follow the Navan Road, M50, Drogheda (10.15 a.m.), Dundalk (10.45 a.m.), Belfast (midday) and Ballymoney (1 p.m.).