A dispute has broken out between Apprentice Boys Clubs and the RUC in Lurgan, Co Armagh over a proposed open-air service and protest parade in the town planned for September 11th.
The service and protest, which the Apprentice Boys say will go ahead despite objections from a local residents group in Lurgan, has been called following a Parades Commissions decision earlier this month to prohibit the annual "Derry Day" celebrations from entering the William Street area of the town.
A meeting between the Apprentice Boys and the RUC to discuss the September 11th protest had been arranged for Friday of last week. However, according to the Apprentice Boys, it was cancelled at short notice by the RUC after it found out representatives of the Parades Commission had been asked to attend.
A spokesman for the Apprentice Boys, Mr Roy Ferguson, said yesterday: "The RUC refused to take part and accused us of deliberately duping them by not stating who would be at the meeting. It appeared they found the proposed presence of representatives of the Parades Commission at that meeting highly objectionable.
"We asked the commission to be present, solely as witnesses, to see at first hand the problems we have with the RUC. The questions must be asked: what have the RUC got to hide and what do they find objectionable about the presence of the Parades Commission. We are now left waiting for the RUC to decide if and when another meeting will take place."
Yesterday, the RUC was unable to respond to the Apprentice Boys' comments. An RUC spokesperson said senior officers involved in the matter would not be available until this morning.