Opinion

Orange Order don't do discipline

In RESPOnSE to a question about an Orange riot on the twelfth at Woodvale in north Belfast, an Orange spokesman said: "Brethren convicted of a criminal offence are dealt with in accordance with the institution's internal disciplinary proceedings." When Orangemen were charged with rioting during the mayhem at Drumcree they pleaded guilty.

When subsequently convicted of criminality the brethren had the effrontery to claim that they were the victims of a miscarriage of justice.

One of the accused, when he was remanded in custody, had actually written to the police commander apologising for spitting in his face.

Weighing in with his support for rioters the grand master of the Orange Order, Robert Saulters, expressed the view that the brethren had been "set-up" by the police. the Orange Order don't do discipline against it's criminal elements.

With regards to the rioting at Woodvale on the twelfth, there is litte chance of the Orange Order volunteering to identify the brethren involved.

PaTRICk McPaRLanD

Belfast BT12