Hain defends Parades Commission appointment

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain today defended the appointment of an Orangeman to the Parades Commission after it emerged he supplied the name of a nationalist politician as a referee without ever consulting her.

In a letter to SDLP Assembly member Delores Kelly, Mr Hain insisted the people he appointed last November including Portadown Orangeman Don MacKay were the best people to do the job.