Trimble silent on criticism by new Orange leader of Blair marriage

MR David Trimble would make no comment last night about the new Orange grand master's conviction that it was "disloyal" of the British Labour leader to have married a Catholic.

The UUP leader, who is meeting Mr Tony Blair near Portadown today, criticised The Irish Times, however, for "exhuming" the original comments that Mr Robert Saulters made six months ago about the Labour leader's marriage.

In Belfast on July 12th, Mr Saulters said Mr Blair had "already sold his birthright by marrying a Romanist and serving Communion in a Roman Catholic church".

Mr Saulters, on his unanimous election as Orange grand master on Wednesday, stood by his views. He said Mr Blair was "disloyal" to himself and to his religion in marrying a Catholic.

The comments would be expected to cause some embarrassment for Mr Trimble and the UUP, particularly in the light of his meeting with Mr Blair today, and in the light of the UUP's official links with the Orange Order.

Mr Saulters is a delegate to the Ulster Unionist Council, the governing body of the UUP.

When asked to comment on the grand master's remarks yesterday, Mr Trimble instead criticised the "quality of journalism which exhumes comments" made six months ago.

When it was pointed out that Mr Saulters generally stood by that view on Wednesday, Mr Trimble repeated his remark about "exhuming comments" and said he had nothing further to say.

Reporters have been invited to "doorstep" Mr Trimble's meeting with Mr Blair today, and it is expected he will be again asked to offer his views on Mr Saulters's criticism.

The SDLP chairman Mr Jonathan Stephenson, a Protestant married to a Catholic, said yesterday he was saddened by Mr Saulters's remarks. "Does it tell us that the order stands for the defence of civil and religious liberty for all? Or is the message that the order remains a bigoted and prejudiced organisation?" he asked.

Mr Glyn Roberts of the Alliance Party said Mr Saulters's comments were an "utter disgrace", and he called on Mr Trimble to condemn "such anti Catholic remarks".

"Narrow minded comments like these will only serve to reinforce the view that the Orange Order is a deeply sectarian organisation with no interest of any sort in reconciliation in Northern Ireland," he added.