Portadown Orangemen Don McKay has bowed to political pressure by resigning from the Parades Commission following a row over how he was appointed to the body.
Last night Northern Secretary Peter Hain, who appointed Mr McKay to the commission last November, rounded on the SDLP, whom he believes was chiefly responsible for the Orangeman's decision to quit.
David Burrows, a former Portadown Orange district master, who was central to the annual Drumcree disputes, was also appointed to the commission in November.
Mr McKay, a DUP member and senior fire officer in Portadown, in his application to join the commission had named SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly as a referee even though she had not given him permission to do so.
This emerged last February when Ms Kelly learned she had been named as a referee. She immediately protested that she would not have endorsed Mr McKay for the post.
Since then Ms Kelly and the SDLP have mounted a campaign for Mr McKay to be forced out of the job.
Allegations were also made this week that Mr Burrows had named a Protestant minister as a referee even though he did not have permission to do this.
Ms Kelly yesterday welcomed Mr McKay's decision and said Mr Burrows should also resign. She said the Northern Ireland Office had serious lessons to learn over the issue.
"They tried to pull a stroke by packing the commission with Orange Order members without doing even basic checks on their suitability," said Ms Kelly.
"They then attacked those of us in the SDLP who raised legitimate and serious concerns, accusing us of making unnecessary mischief when we were simply doing our duty as public representatives who are concerned about the role of the Parades Commission."
Mr Hain did not mention the SDLP by name in his reaction to news of the resignation, but it was clear that he blamed the party for forcing Mr McKay off the commission.
"When those who have been branded for years as being part of the problem join a body that is part of the solution, then they should be supported, or at least judged on how they perform, and not be subject to hostility and abuse," he said.
