Fresh call to abolish Parades Commission

The loyal marching orders today held a groundbreaking first ever joint meeting with the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland.

Senior Orangemen and members of the Royal Black Institution repeated demands for the abolition of the body which rules on disputed parades during talks with Archbishop Sean Brady.

A statement for the joint working group described the meeting in Armagh as cordial.

It said: “It was a useful exchange of views held in an atmosphere of concern for the coming months which all sides wish to see pass in an entirely peaceful manner.

“The Loyal Orders made clear that they believe the Parades Commission has failed and should be replaced by a better system of regulation of all events on the public highway.”

Orange Order Grand Master Robert Saulters and secretary Drew Nelson, William Logan and the Rev Tom Greer of the Royal Black Institution, and MLAs George Dawson and Mervyn Storey from the Independent Orange Institution all took part in the talks.

It was the latest in a series of meetings organised by the Joint Loyal Orders Working Group on the marching issue .

They have already put their concerns to Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain, the Republic’s Department of Foreign Affairs, members of the House of Lords, Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde, political leaders and Protestant clergymen.

Marchers have boycotted the Parades Commission because they claim it is biased against them.

“We recognise that there has to be regulation, but presently this is focused on parades organised by the Loyal Orders – and that, we believe, is biased and unfair,” the statement added.

“The Parades Commission has, furthermore, shown itself to be a failed and increasingly farcical body that must be replaced with a more equitable arrangement that will seek to develop the widest possible consensus from within the community.”