Orange Order prepared to meet Garvaghy Road residents

The Orange Order in Portadown has confirmed that it is prepared to enter face-to-face talks with nationalist residents of Garvaghy Road.

The loyalist organisation has been banned from marching down the road every July since 1998 because of its refusal to enter into discussions with the residents.

It now appears to have made a u-turn on the matter, with a spokesman saying the order is prepared to "enter a mediation process with an independent chairman".

The Garvaghy Road residents say they have received an indication from the Parades Commission of the possibility of dialogue and are awaiting confirmation.