The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, met Portadown Orangemen again yesterday in an attempt to diffuse the prospect of violent clashes between protesters and police at Drumcree on Sunday. The meeting was the third between Mr Blair and the Orangemen this week.
Mr Denis Watson, the County Armagh Grand Master, last night described the meeting as "constructive". He said Mr Blair had agreed to keep the Drumcree issue "closely under review". Other member of the Orange delegation included Mr Robert Saulters, the Grand Master of the Orange Order, Mr Harold Gracey, the Portadown District Master, and Mr David Jones, spokesman for the Portadown Orangemen.
There were clashes between nationalists and the RUC on Garvaghy Road last night. The RUC moved in after missiles were thrown at loyalists when they tried to erect an Orange arch in the Parkmount area. One child was injured.
The talks between the Orangemen and Mr Blair, which lasted for over an hour, were held in Stormont Castle buildings.
In a statement issued later, the Orangemen said the meeting represented a continuation of the "constructive discussions" the order has had with Mr Blair. "The prime minister agreed to keep in contact and is keeping the situation under review." Insiders at the talks indicated that Mr Blair pressed the Orangemen not to embroil themselves in a protracted stand-off at Drumcree, and in return the march would have an increased chance of proceeding down Garvaghy Road later in the summer. Mr Paul Berry, of the DUP, stressed last night that if Mr Blair wanted to rid Northern Ireland of the Drumcree issue the "boys would have to get down the road". Mr Blair met the Orange delegation and also the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition twice at proximity talks between the sides on Monday.
However, proposals tabled by the North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, aimed at breaking the impasse were deemed to be unacceptable by the nationalist residents as they included a parade down the route this year.
The proposals involved a march this year followed by the establishment of a civic forum which would address community relations in Portadown. An injection of substantial funding for the town was also included.
Mr Jones confirmed that the Orange delegation would have met the residents directly in the negotiations, reversing its previous position of refusing direct engagement, if the proposals were accepted.
In a demonstration at Drumcree in protest against the commission's decision, Mr Gracey said Mr Blair was "sympathetic" to the Orangemen. However, the Parades Commission was critical of the Portadown district in its ruling on next Sunday's parade. Continuous Orange protests in the town during the last 12 months were an attempt to "pressure" the commission into reversing its previous ban.