ORANGE ORDER STALLS ON PATTON DECISION
Orange order stalls on Patton decision
By Valerie Robinson
DISSIDENT Orangeman Joel Patton last night accused Orange leaders of "setting a trap" by holding a meeting in Omagh to decide his future in the Order.
The meeting ended last night with no decision on what action to take over Mr Patton.
The Spirit of Drumcree leader fell foul of fellow Orangemen in August when he launched an attack Reverend William Bingham during a Pomeroy rally.
Mr Patton accused the Orange chaplain of being "a disgrace" after he urged protestors at Drumcree to end their standoff, in the wake of the Quinn brothers' death during a petrol bomb attack on their Ballymoney home.
He received notice last week that fellow Orangemen believed his attack on the chaplain was unbecoming and disciplinary action would be considered.
But as County Tyrone Orangemen met in Omagh last night to decide whether the Dungannon man should be expelled, Mr Patton predicted that the Order would suffer a massive backlash.
He accused the organisers of last night's meeting of choosing Omagh as a venue in a bid "to castigate" the 47-year old and his supporters.
"It was a trap. They were hoping that if a lot of people turned up to support me and there was trouble we would be castigated by the media.
"After all those people were killed in Omagh if there were any violent scenes it would have looked very bad for us."
Mr Patton said he "deliberately didn't go to the meeting" to avoid potential trouble.
And he said many Orangemen were disillusioned with developments within the Order.
He also accused Orange leaders of letting members down by allowing nationalists to address a seminar on the parades issue at the House of Orange in Belfast at the weekend.
"If I'm expelled there will be ramifications.
"A lot of people were very surprised to see nationalists being given a platform through the Orange Order.
"These people want us to be a toothless, ineffectual charade."
By Valerie Robinson
DISSIDENT Orangeman Joel Patton last night accused Orange leaders of "setting a trap" by holding a meeting in Omagh to decide his future in the Order.
The meeting ended last night with no decision on what action to take over Mr Patton.
The Spirit of Drumcree leader fell foul of fellow Orangemen in August when he launched an attack Reverend William Bingham during a Pomeroy rally.
Mr Patton accused the Orange chaplain of being "a disgrace" after he urged protestors at Drumcree to end their standoff, in the wake of the Quinn brothers' death during a petrol bomb attack on their Ballymoney home.
He received notice last week that fellow Orangemen believed his attack on the chaplain was unbecoming and disciplinary action would be considered.
But as County Tyrone Orangemen met in Omagh last night to decide whether the Dungannon man should be expelled, Mr Patton predicted that the Order would suffer a massive backlash.
He accused the organisers of last night's meeting of choosing Omagh as a venue in a bid "to castigate" the 47-year old and his supporters.
"It was a trap. They were hoping that if a lot of people turned up to support me and there was trouble we would be castigated by the media.
"After all those people were killed in Omagh if there were any violent scenes it would have looked very bad for us."
Mr Patton said he "deliberately didn't go to the meeting" to avoid potential trouble.
And he said many Orangemen were disillusioned with developments within the Order.
He also accused Orange leaders of letting members down by allowing nationalists to address a seminar on the parades issue at the House of Orange in Belfast at the weekend.
"If I'm expelled there will be ramifications.
"A lot of people were very surprised to see nationalists being given a platform through the Orange Order.
"These people want us to be a toothless, ineffectual charade."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0398
Published Date: 23-Sep-98
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