Sinn Fein and Alliance have said the re-election of Mr Harold Gracey as master of Portadown Orange Lodge did not augur well for the prospects of a resolution to the Drumcree conflict. Dr Dara O'Hagan of Sinn Fein said nationalists were dismayed at his re-election.
Alliance president Dr Philip McGarry said it now seemed likely this year's events at Drumcree would be repeated in 1999.