Orangemen in Co Armagh have said they will call a special meeting of the order in Portadown as soon as possible, following a newspaper report yesterday that the District Master, Mr Harold Gracey, was not maintaining his vigil at the Orangemen's caravan at Drumcree.
The report also claimed that Mr Gracey, who once said he would remain at Drumcree until Orangemen completed their march down the Garvaghy Road, had not been at Drumcree on numerous occasions over a 10-day period. Mr Gracey has denied the reports.
Orange Order hardliners have called for Mr Gracey to stand down as leader of the Portadown Orangemen. A senior Orange source said the protest was "in serious decline".
Mr David Jones, Portadown Orange press officer, said the report was "sensationalism" and Mr Gracey was totally committed to the protest. "There are times when Mr Gracey is not present at Drumcree due to Orange Order commitments," Mr Jones said.
Yesterday only a handful of Orangemen attended morning service at Drumcree.