Leading Orangemen have rejected claims that the Orange Order is seriously split over the Drumcree stand-off. However, there have been calls for a "period of reflection" by the organisation over the violence which accompanied the protest.
The denial comes as hopes increase that the proximity talks involving the residents of Garvaghy Road and the Orange Order in Co Armagh will produce a resolution.
The talks are expected to resume today. There is speculation that the residents might be encouraged to yield concessions in return for an investment package aimed at improving the economic position of Catholics in Portadown.
Further signs of an easing of political tension were evident in Derry, where the Apprentice Boys have announced their intention to participate in the City Forum due to start tomorrow. The Ulster Unionist Party and local Orange Order have also signalled their intention to take part.
All three organisations had previously boycotted the forum.
The Co Armagh Grand Master, Mr Denis Watson, yesterday played down the resignations of at least three Orange Order chaplains following the murder of the three Quinn children in a sectarian arson attack nine days ago. He said that some of the resignations came before the Drumcree siege began on July 5th.
However, Mr Watson conceded it was time for the organisation to reflect on the violence linked to the stand-off. "The three young lives who were tragically murdered in Ballymoney certainly have been linked to the institution," he said.
"That's something we have to take on board and look to the future and ensure that we do not have any more scenes of violence throughout any part of this province."
The order is due to consider the fall-out from Drumcree at a special meeting on August 1st. The former grand master and Unionist MP, Mr Martin Smyth, accused the media of exaggerating the splits within the organisation.
RUC and army personnel yesterday removed the last barricades on Garvaghy Road as Portadown continued its return to normal life. Army engineers filled in the big trench in the neighbouring fields and took away the rolls of barbed wire alongside it.
The fields where thousands of loyalists gathered two weeks ago were virtually deserted yesterday.
Only a handful of senior Orangemen are being allowed access to the area to continue their campaign to parade down Garvaghy Road.
Protesters are operating in shifts and sleeping in cars rather than in the field.
On the proximity talks, Mr Watson said the Orange Order would continue working towards a permanent solution to the dispute, but this would take some time.
