THE Grand Master of the Orange Order, Mr Robert Saulters, has commended nationalists in Dromore, Co Tyrone for negotiating a deal on this year's Twelfth of July parade. However, there is disagreement within the order as to whether any deal exists.
Mr Saulters said last night he understood an agreement between residents and the local Orange Lodge was reached at a recent meeting.
"I think it is great that the local, half a dozen Orangemen can sit down and talk to the residents... and hopefully this can be done all over the country in that way," Mr Saulters said.
But senior members of the Orange Order maintained yesterday that no deal had been made. It had been claimed that a meeting organised by the Church of Ireland rector in Dromore, Mr Don Gamble, and the local parish priest, Father Thomas Breen, had reached a consensus on routes and times and on the number of bands band lodges attending the parade.
The meeting was attended by Protestant and Catholic clergy, nationalist councillors, local business and community leaders and members of the local Orange Order lodges, according to a local SDLP councillor, Mr Liam McQuaid.
However, the deputy master of one of the lodges, Mr Gerald Marshall, said no agreement had been reached and that any Orangemen in attendance had not been there - at the request of the Order. Thus, he said, any agreements reached were "null and void".
Local orange lodges are to meet tonight to discuss the controversy.