Orange Order to outline parades plans

Orange Order leaders were expected to outline their plans for dealing with controversial parades in the North today.

Members of the Grand Lodge arranged the meeting to discuss the issue of marches fiercely opposed by nationalist residents’ groups.

The talks come as a Stormont working group continues to examine potential changes to parade management structures.

Three Democratic Unionist and Sinn Féin members have been tasked with designing a new and improved framework to rule on controversial marches, including a focus on local solutions, mediation and adjudication.

Nationalist residents in mainly working-class areas like north Belfast and Portadown, Co Armagh, oppose Orange Order processions past their houses because they see them as triumphalist.

Members of the loyal orders accuse householders of going out of their way to be offended and maintain it is their traditional right to demonstrate on the streets.

The meeting is one of four annual gatherings by the Order’s leaders.