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Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland
  Press Statements

Loyal Orders Response to Sinn Fein

24 May 2006

The following statement was issued jointly today by the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, the Royal Black Institution, and the Independent Loyal Orange Institution.

"As leaders of the Loyal Orders we can confirm that recently each of us has received seperate letters from Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams MP.

We have noted the terms of Mr Adams' letter, and in particular:

1) The acknowledgement of the right of the Loyal Orders to parade

2) The description of the role of residents' groups as 'consultees'

3) The recognition that the vast majority of our events are without incident

4) The acceptance that a new context is necessary to resolve the outstanding small number of sensitive situations

We are also acutely aware of previous statements from the same source to the effect that the contention and disputes over parades has been organised by Sinn Fein-inspired activists. We have witnessed the outworking of those remarks on the streets for many years.

Gerry Adams needs to deliver against these new remarks contained in his letters to Robert Saulters (Grand Master, Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland), William Logan (Sovereign Grand Master, Royal Black Institution) and George Dawson MLA (Grand Master, Independent Loyal Orange Institution). Words alone are not enough.

As a demonstration of the reality behind Mr Adams' latest 'words', we would expect to see:

1) The unobstructed return of Portadown District from its church service. This annual service commenced in 1807

2) Public declarations, and positive outworking, of the concept that protests against parades should be non-provocative, lawful and entirely peaceful

3) Support for the PSNI in upholding the rule of law in relation to parades and protests

These actions during the current summer would add credibility to the content of Mr Adams' letter and go a long way towards transforming the situtaion and reducing unnecessary tensions in the community."

Robert Saulters, Grand Master, Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland
William J. Logan MBE, Sovereign Grand Master, Royal Black Institution
George Dawson MLA, Grand Master, Independent Loyal Orange Institution



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