The British government is under fire today after announcing it will give the Orange Order more than £100,000 (€144,000) to help it try to popularise the annual July 12 parade in Belfast.

The organisers of a loyalist rally in Belfast at the weekend are considering staging a similar event in Dublin, it emerged today.

The Ulster Unionist Party is seeking £12,000 per year in affiliation fees from the Orange Order, which has 120 seats on the UUP’s powerful ruling council.

Orangemen today condemned restrictions imposed on a controversial parade in a flashpoint area of west Belfast.