Orange Order refuses to open talks with residents groups

The Orange Order in the North is refusing to abandon its controversial policy of not speaking to nationalist residents groups about disputed loyalist parades.

Yesterday, the SDLP held talks with the order for the first time in its history and urged it to accept dialogue with Catholic residents in areas like the Garvaghy Road.

However, the order refused to end its policy, which has led to several contentious Orange marches being banned from Catholic areas.

Despite this, both sides described yesterday's meeting as constructive and said they planned to hold further talks in the future.