The Orange Order has condemned the "orchestrated campaign of demonisation" against it following a meeting with the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, at Downing Street yesterday, aimed at resolving the impasse over the Orangemen's protest at Drumcree.
After the meeting, which took place at the request of the Orange Order, the secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge, Mr John McCrea, refused to answer questions about the content, insisting the delegation had to report to the Grand Master and the County Grand Masters first. Instead he read a short statement which said they presented their views on Drumcree and "the wider situation pertaining to our culture and heritage". The delegation, which included representatives from the County Grand Lodge of Armagh and Portadown District No 1, refused to comment on reports that senior members of the Orange Order held a private meeting last week with the Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop Robin Eames and the Catholic Primate, Archbishop Sean Brady, in an attempt to resolve the Drumcree protest.
The archbishops have made no comment on the reports and there have been no public indications the Orangemen are prepared to call off their protest until they can march down the Garvaghy Road. The Orangemen also restated their opposition to the Parades Commission and discussed the "demonisation" of the Orange institution with Mr Blair. Downing Street described the meeting as "positive and constructive".
The spokesman for the Garvaghy Residents' Coalition, Mr Brendan MacCionnaith, dismissed the meeting as "nothing more than a publicity stunt". Mr MacCionnaith said there was no evidence of any "new thinking" in the Order, which was tenaciously adhering to the same position on Drumcree.