Orangemen around the North say they will not travel to Drumcree for a demonstration in support of the Portadown lodge planned for July 12th, Clare Murphy reports. Rather, the lodges in Belfast, Co Tyrone and Co Down have said they will hold their traditional parades.
Up to 100,000 Orangemen were expected to attend a demonstration planned for this summer at Drumcree in support of the Portadown District LOL No 1. Members of the Portadown lodge have been engaged in a standoff at Drumcree since last July when they were prevented, from marching down the nationalist Garvaghy Road.
However, the lodges in Belfast, Tyrone and Down have stressed their continuing support for the Portadown District in its demand to march the town's traditional route.
In continuing efforts to resolve the standoff, private talks were held yesterday at Stormont between the North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, and Mr Breandan Mac Cionnaith, of the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition. Mr Mac Cionnaith said the meeting was a "sounding-out exercise".