Chances of a resolution in the Drumcree impasse seemed remote last night after the Parades Commission confirmed its decision to ban tomorrow's Orange march despite last-minute proposals from the Orange Order in Portadown.
In a submission to the commission, the Portadown Orange district master, Mr Harold Gracey, had said that if the commission reversed the decision to ban tomorrow's parade, he would call off all protests.
He said that the Portadown district lodge would engage in a pre-mediation process set up by the South African lawyer, Mr Brian Currin, with a view to moving to a full mediation process in an attempt to resolve the problem for 2001 and subsequent years.
The commission said that it welcomed the Orange proposals. "They indicate a recognition by Portadown district of the need to establish a sound basis for the resolution of the situation," a statement said.
The sequencing of the Orange proposal was problematic in that it sought to have the commission's decision changed before ending its protests and entering into dialogue. This was, the commission said, "in contrast to our road map, which envisaged a number of events occurring before and leading to a parade".
The Parades Commission had separate meetings with the representatives of the Orange Order and Garvaghy Road residents. It also met the SDLP Minister in the Stormont Executive, Ms Brid Rodgers, and a Sinn Fein delegation.
Demanding a march before dialogue was "putting the cart before the horse", Ms Rodgers said. "Unfortunately in the last 11 1/2 months there has been no dialogue, even though the residents have called for it. Therefore, the possibility of a quick fix at this stage is simply not on."
Mr Breandan Mac Cionnaith, residents' spokesman, said there had been nothing new in Mr Gracey's submission. "It's not a new proposal, it's been floating about for several years. What it essentially is, is a tired old proposal from tired old men who can't face up to the reality of what is happening around them," he said.
Mr Gracey was threatening more violence if the order did not get its way tomorrow, he said, and said the only way forward was through talks with no predetermined outcome.
The Northern Secretary urged the Portadown Orangemen not to break off dialogue in the wake of the Parades Commission's ruling.
The decision to uphold the ban on tomorrow's march was condemned by Democratic Unionist MLA Mr Paul Berry. He said it was clear the commission did not want to listen to the Orange institution and he called for "people power" to secure a march on the Garvaghy Road for the Portadown Orangemen.
"It is now time for the Protestant people to stand together right across Northern Ireland with one voice, to stand united in support of the Portadown brethren until their rights are restored," he said.