Northern Ireland

Orange lodge apologises after loyalist flute band parade in Belfast City Hall

The George Telford Memorial Orange Lodge has apologised to Belfast city council after a loyalist flute band paraded in city hall during a dinner event it had organised
The George Telford Memorial Orange Lodge has apologised to Belfast city council after a loyalist flute band paraded in city hall during a dinner event it had organised The George Telford Memorial Orange Lodge has apologised to Belfast city council after a loyalist flute band paraded in city hall during a dinner event it had organised

An Orange lodge has apologised to Belfast city council after a loyalist flute band paraded inside City Hall.

The George Telford Memorial Orange Lodge wrote to the council to say it accepted responsibility for the "unfortunate incident" and apologised "for any offence it may have caused".

There was condemnation after a video emerged on social media showing Govan Protestant Boys parading inside city hall to applause and cheers.

The Scottish band had been attending a dinner last Saturday, which had been organised by the George Telford Memorial Orange Lodge.

According to BBC News NI, the lodge sent a letter to the council in which it said it was "extremely disappointed that this important event in the lodge's history has been overshadowed as a result of a misunderstanding on the night concerning the band we had engaged as part of the night's entertainment and, in particular, where and when they could play.

"The lodge, as the organiser of the function, however accepts responsibility for this unfortunate incident and apologises for any offence it may have caused."