Northern Ireland's First Minister today held the first meeting with nationalist residents at the centre of one of the North's most bitter marching disputes for more than a decade.
Brendan Mac Coinnaith, a spokesman for the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition, said DUP leader Peter Robinson appeared open-minded over efforts to resolve the Drumcree impasse.
Mr Mac Coinnaith said: “This is the first occasion that representatives from our community have actually met with the senior figure from within the DUP at any stage over the last 14, 15 or 16 years.
“He appeared very open-minded to what we were saying, understood the concerns of our community as well. I think he demonstrated that he is not going to act as a proxy on behalf of the Orange Order.”
He accepted the suggestion that, as far as his Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition was concerned, the matter was solved and added that it was the responsibility of the Parades Commission."
Today’s talks were held following a peaceful demonstration by Orangemen in Portadown, Co Armagh, on Sunday.
In the 1990s there was widespread violence and Orangemen have not been able to walk down the nationalist Garvaghy Road since 1998.
The Orange Order is trenchantly opposed to the commission, and has called for it to be scrapped. Its representatives are to meet Mr Robinson at Stormont Castle near Belfast later today.
PA