THE Mediation Network, which helped broker last year's Drumcree stand-off compromise, stated that the RUC agreed then that no future Orange marches would parade down Garvaghy Road without the consent of local residents.
The network's two main independent negotiators - Mr Brendan McAllister, a Catholic, and Mr Joe Campbell, a Protestant - said yesterday that they were making their statement to honour an undertaking given to the Garvaghy Roads Residents Association and "as a matter of professional integrity".
Last year, the RUC Deputy Chief Constable told them "there was no question of marches going where there was no consent from the community", they said, and they believed it. The RUC said it could make no comment on what were confidential discussions.