Saulters may face marching orders?
31 July 2005
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ORANGE Order chief, Robert Saulters, could be facing a challenge to his position as Grand Master for the first time since he took up the reins, nine years ago.
For many rank-and-file Orangemen are strongly opposed to his recent criticism of talks with residents’ groups, in Londonderry and west Belfast.
And, a growing number of Grand Lodge of Ireland members, believe a radical new approach is required to deal with the issue of contentious parades.
Talks involving the order and nationalist residents, chaired by Derry Chamber of Commerce, led to a major breakthrough on the Twelfth.
It allowed Orangemen to march on the west bank of the city for the first time since 1992.
There were also discussions leading up to the postponed Whiterock parade, involving district master, William Mawhinney, the most senior Orangeman on the Shankill Road, and prominent republican, Sean Murray.
Mr Saulters and his deputy, the Rev Stephen Dickinson, have argued that such talks breached “if not the letter, certainly the spirit of Grand Lodge policy.”
One senior member of Grand Lodge told Sunday Life: “Robert Saulters may well have to carry the can for the sins of the past, and unless there is a major policy rethink, he will face a challenge at the Grand Lodge meeting at the end of the calendar year.”
