Order again banned from Garvaghy

Orangemen and supporters pictured in 2001 at a security barrier

Orangemen will not be permitted to march down the Garvaghy Road in Portadown next month, the Parades Commission has ruled.

The ruling follows the revelation that Orange Order members held a meeting with Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams.

Orangemen have been banned from parading down the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road since 1998.

The commission said the lodge's willingness to "engage in direct discussions was a significant advance".

The Orange Order's talks with Mr Adams took place last week at an undisclosed location.

Portadown district master Daryl Hewitt said there "had been a full and frank discussion".

The Grand Lodge of Ireland said they heard about the meeting through the media and while they understood the frustration of members in Portadown, they "did not believe clandestine meetings were in the best interests of the institution".