Nationalists criticise decision on parades commission appointment

Nationalist residents, the SDLP and Sinn Féin have all criticised today's Appeal Court ruling to reinstate two Orangeman onto the Parades Commission.

The court ruled that the Northern Secretary Peter Hain, in asking the two Orangemen to promise to act impartially, had discharged his duty over a potential conflict of interest.

Mr Hain has welcomed the ruling.

John O'Down, Sinn Féin assembly member in Portadown, Co. Armagh, said it made a mockery of the courts and democracy.

“I'm deeply disappointed but not surprised - we now have a secretary of state who can't be held to account through the courts, and cannot be held to account by the democratically elected institutions,” he said. “We should have been involved in the process of talks and dialogue in the residents group and loyal orders.”