Orange head rejects resign call over deal

THE Orange Grand Master has rejected a call for his resignation after supporting an agreement between Orangemen and residents…

THE Orange Grand Master has rejected a call for his resignation after supporting an agreement between Orangemen and residents in Dromore, Co Tyrone, to allow an Orange march through on July 12th.

Mr Joel Patton of the Spirit of Drumcree group said Mr Robert Saulters, who has held the position just three months, was "out of touch" with grass roots feeling and should resign.

The Dromore lodge of the order was meeting last night to decide if it would accept the agreement reached by the lodge master. Mr Saulters said: "The Dromore initiative is something that has been agreed with grassroots membership, which I support."

Mr Patton said: "The people who were at that meeting [which agreed on the parade] were not representing their lodges. The decision they reached was not valid, and the Grand Master backed a decision to talk to Sinn Fein."