The spokesperson for the Garvaghy Road Concerned Residents Coalition, Mr Breandan Mac Cionnaith, has firmly rejected rumours that a financial deal had been struck to resolve the Drumcree crisis. Speaking after a meeting of more than 800 people from the area in St Mary's Hall in Portadown last night, he said: "There have been absolutely no proposals put to us about a deal, and it is clear from the response at tonight's meeting that the issue of the Garvaghy Road is not negotiable."
Meanwhile, members of the order's Portadown District No 1 have pledged they will sever all contacts with the government, political parties and the RUC unless their deadline for a resolution of the Drumcree crisis is met.
A spokesman for the Orangemen, Mr David Jones, said yesterday if the situation had not been resolved by the end of June they would cut themselves off from all efforts to find a solution. "By then we will have been out on the hill for almost 12 months," he said.
Mr Mac Cionnaith said the setting of a deadline was an attempt to threaten the nationalist community. "This is an indication that they intend going ahead with mass demonstrations in Portadown. This community views Orange marches as a very sinister and public way in which they have suffered sectarian harrassment."
The Orangemen also dismissed the deal reportedly made to end the marching crisis, which is believed to have been approved by the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair.
There is speculation that a £25 million package has been formulated, with half the money going to the order for upgrading Orange Halls and heritage centres and the other half for the regeneration of the Garvaghy Road area.
The North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, is to hold more talks with local representatives of the nationalist residents and the wider community later this week.