Drumcree Talks Continue Without Agreement

Talks aimed at resolving the Drumcree parade standoff continued Thursday, but no agreement had been announced by the end of the day. The Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition said its position was unchanged, while the Orange Order’s response to a proposed compromise remained unclear. A legal challenge to the parade was due to be heard Friday at the Court of Appeal in Belfast. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant had been involved in discussions with the residents’ coalition and the Orange Order since Monday. He put forward a document for consideration as the parties sought to break the impasse. The residents’ spokesman, Breandán Mac Cionnaith, said Wednesday that the coalition would accept the document if the Orange Order did. Before heading to further talks Thursday, he said there had been no change in the residents’ position. The reported terms of the proposal, which were not set out in a published document in the reports, would have residents recognize the Orange Order’s legal right to march and publicly acknowledge that blocking the route was wrong. In return, the Orange Order would choose not to march along Garvaghy Road.