The next round of "intensive talks" aimed at resolving the Drumcree parade impasse, which were due to be held in Belfast tomorrow, will not now begin until Friday at the earliest. It is believed that the postponement has been agreed to give the Portadown District Master of the Orange Order, Mr Harold Gracey, time to return from holiday to participate in the discussions, which will involve representatives of the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition.
It is known that the Portadown Orangemen were unhappy at the prospect of crucial talks without Mr Gracey. Many of them felt that his "resolute approach" would help to prevent Orangemen being "pressured into accepting a compromise deal on Drumcree".
There is little optimism in the Portadown area that the talks will break the deadlock over Drumcree. Both nationalists and loyalists were engaged in running battles with the security forces in the town after last Saturday's junior Orange parade along a section of the Garvaghy Road.