Orange Order to seek apology from SDLP minister

The Orange Order is holding a meeting today with an SDLP politician who described the organisation as sectarian and deeply divisive.

Margaret Ritchie, the Minister for Social Development at Stormont, made the remarks during a speech to a GAA conference.

She condemned attacks on Orange halls and GAA clubhouses and praised officials from both organisations who are progressing and moving forward.

However, she then said there was no real equivalence between the GAA and the Orange Order, which she said was sectarian and divisive.

The Orange Order has described the comments as "scurrilous" and "offensive" and is demanding a retraction.