15 November 2001 Edition
Orange Order withdraws from Currin talks
The Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition say the decision by Portadown Orangemen to break off contact with the Independent South African mediator Brian Currin, "comes as no surprise".
Speaking to An Phoblacht, Sinn Féin Assembly member for Upper Bann, Dara O'Hagan, said "the actions of the Orange Order clearly show that they have no wish to engage in dialogue in order to resolve the marching issue".
O'Hagan added that the Orange Order's decision was "cynical in the extreme as it comes at a time of intense speculation that the British government may be on the point of announcing a review of the Parades Commission. This marching issue can only be resolved through dialogue. Unfortunately, to date, the Orange Order has refused to talk to the residents of the Garvaghy Road. Once again, the Orange Order has walked away from a process aimed at resolving this dispute to the satisfaction of all involved."
Portadown LOL No 1 announced last Thursday, 8 November, that it was withdrawing from the talks process and blamed the Garvaghy Road residents, saying they had "no interest in reaching any accommodation with the District".
The Currin process has been ongoing for the last 18 months and this is the second time the Orange Order has pulled out. Between February and May this year the Orange Order suspended all contact with Currin and refused to circulate among their membership a document drawn up by Currin.
The spokesperson for Garvaghy residents said that in recent weeks Brian Currin had forwarded a fresh set of proposals to Portadown Orangemen, the residents and the British government, yet the Orangemen refused to even discuss it.
Speaking to An Phoblacht, Sinn Féin Assembly member for Upper Bann, Dara O'Hagan, said "the actions of the Orange Order clearly show that they have no wish to engage in dialogue in order to resolve the marching issue".
O'Hagan added that the Orange Order's decision was "cynical in the extreme as it comes at a time of intense speculation that the British government may be on the point of announcing a review of the Parades Commission. This marching issue can only be resolved through dialogue. Unfortunately, to date, the Orange Order has refused to talk to the residents of the Garvaghy Road. Once again, the Orange Order has walked away from a process aimed at resolving this dispute to the satisfaction of all involved."
Portadown LOL No 1 announced last Thursday, 8 November, that it was withdrawing from the talks process and blamed the Garvaghy Road residents, saying they had "no interest in reaching any accommodation with the District".
The Currin process has been ongoing for the last 18 months and this is the second time the Orange Order has pulled out. Between February and May this year the Orange Order suspended all contact with Currin and refused to circulate among their membership a document drawn up by Currin.
The spokesperson for Garvaghy residents said that in recent weeks Brian Currin had forwarded a fresh set of proposals to Portadown Orangemen, the residents and the British government, yet the Orangemen refused to even discuss it.