Order `vilified and demonised'

The Orange Order was being "vilified, demonised and blamed for events that it had nothing to do with and could not condone", …

The Orange Order was being "vilified, demonised and blamed for events that it had nothing to do with and could not condone", the Grand Lodge assistant grand master, Mr Rodney Stewart, told Orangemen at Portglenone in Co Antrim, where 16 lodges were represented.

He called for the disbandment of the Parades Commission, which he referred to as an "unelected, unaccountable quango".

"Some of their determinations are completely beyond apprehension as they consistently pander to those who wish to use the parades issue for their own political ends," Mr Stewart added.