Upper Bann Ulster Unionist representative, Cllr Kyle Savage has praised the conduct of Portadown District LOL No 1 and said the onus now falls on others to take the steps needed to find an accommodation.

Cllr Savage, a member of the Loyal Orders and one of three party signatories to a submission made to the Parades Commission ahead of last week's determination, said the District had applied lawfully, gone to court and abided by the outcome, and had agreed to mediation without preconditions. He said what happened at the weekend sat badly against Sinn Féin's language on equality and reconciliation, and that there must be consequences for anyone who broke the law.

Cllr Kyle Savage said:

“Portadown District are a credit to themselves and to the institution they belong to. Their patience and moderation, in the face of everything thrown at them over many years, has been exemplary. They applied lawfully, they went to court, and they abided by the outcome. That is what respect for the law looks like.

“They have also shown a willingness to engage. They agreed to mediation without preconditions. The onus now falls on others to match that and to take the steps needed to find an accommodation.

“What happened at the weekend sat very badly against the language Sinn Féin use about equality and reconciliation. If that is how disagreement is handled when a court rules against them, people are entitled to draw their own conclusions about the assurances they offer unionists.

“There must be consequences for anyone who broke the law, and I would say the same if it were members of my own community. But we also need this dispute resolved, and that will take people sitting down rather than standing on roads.”