An attempt by the Orange Order leadership to take disciplinary proceedings against the head of the dissident Spirit of Drumcree group, Mr Joel Patton, collapsed last night, writes Gerry Moriarty.
A disciplinary hearing, due to take place at Newtownsaville Orange Hall, near Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, was abandoned when no one turned up from the education committee of the order which was due to put the charges, Mr Patton said.
Mr Patton and other members of the Spirit of Drumcree group, including Mr Walter Miller, faced possible expulsion from the order following their protest in Belfast two months ago to prevent senior members of the Belfast order from making a submission to the Parades Commission.
About 100 Orangemen attended last night's meeting and they overwhelmingly supported Mr Patton and Mr Miller. Last Tuesday, a similar disciplinary hearing against a Co Armagh Orangemen, Mr Alec Newell, had to be abandoned in Portadown following a protest by Spirit of Drumcree supporters.