Talks on Drumcree impasse

The latest round of proximity talks involving representatives of the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition and the Portadown Orange…

The latest round of proximity talks involving representatives of the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition and the Portadown Orange District are due to begin in Belfast this morning. The talks will be chaired by Mr Frank Blair, an ACAS intermediary.

Portadown Orange District has already announced that it will not be engaging in any further talks about Drumcree after June 30th.

Today's talks come less than 48 hours after the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland expressed its backing for the Drumcree protest. The order's Grand Master, Mr Robert Saulters, said after a meeting in Derry that the Portadown members had an "absolute right" to parade on the Garvaghy Road.