The Deputy Grand Chaplain of the Orange Order in Scotland has become the most senior figure to resign over the violence surrounding the Drumcree standoff. The Rev Gordon McCracken, from Whitburn, who was Royal Grand Master of the Orange Order in Scotland, announced his resignation on Monday. He has been criticised by other Scottish Orangemen, who were reported anonymously as saying that they felt betrayed by his decision.
There have been reports of further resignations from the order in the North, but it remains unclear how many more chaplains or rank-and-file members may have resigned.
There are unconfirmed reports that three chaplains have resigned in the North, but these men are apparently seeking to remain anonymous since three other chaplains who spoke out against the Drumcree violence received death threats.
The three chaplains who spoke out against the violence - the Rev William Bingham, from Co Armagh; the Rev William Coulter, the Deputy Grand Chaplain, from Ballymena; and the Rev Robert Boyd, from Tyrone - are not resigning from the order.
Interviewed on BBC Radio Scotland, Mr McCracken said: "I was concerned about the build-up to the situation. I felt that a confrontation situation was arising there that was certainly foreseeable.
"My resignation came in the wake of attacks on the security forces, in particular the sight of the policeman's helmet that had suffered from a bullet impact. That, for me, was just the final straw."
The executive officer of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, Mr George Patton, said he was "rather surprised" at some of Mr McCracken's comments. He felt it was unfortunate that he had resigned from the order, but said that anyone was free to do so.
Meanwhile, the order's county strategy committees are continuing to hold meetings to discuss ways to further their protest over the blocking of the Drumcree parade in a manner which will avoid any recurrence of the earlier violence.
The order rejects the notion that its actions led to the week of loyalist violence which culminated in the deaths of the three Quinn children in the firebomb attack on their home in Ballymoney, Co Antrim, on the morning of July 12th.
The Co Antrim Orangemen are to hold a "special divine service" at the showgrounds in Ballymena next Sunday afternoon as a way of expressing their feelings about recent events.
Mr Patton said: "Our institution and our province has come through a period of great turmoil over recent weeks and months and we believe this is now a time to quietly reflect before God on past events."