TC/1233

NO DECISION OVER PATTON AT OMAGH MEETING

No Decision over Patton at Omagh meeting

AFTER a two-hour meeting in Omagh Orange Hall on Tuesday night, Tyrone County Grand Orange Lodge are understood to be undecided as to what action to take against dissident Orangeman, Joel Patton.
The spirit of Drumcree leader was to have faced a disciplinary meeting over his well publicised verbal attack on Orange chaplain, Rev William Bingham, at the Twelfth of July demonstration in Pomeroy.
The Orange dissident from Dungannon has been accused by the order of conduct unbecoming a member of the institution, and bringing the order into disrepute.
But while Mr. Patton said he would be fighting the 'show trial' he did not attend the meeting.
It is understood that the two-hour meeting centred on legal aspects of the matter, with the Tyrone Grand Lodge checking the Institution's laws to ensure they would cover the matter correctly and appropriately.
A second meeting of the Tyrone Grand Lodge will be held in the near future to continue with the matter.
However, the selection of Omagh as a venue for the meeting was described by Mr. Patton as "intensive" following the terrible events after the Real IRA bomb attack on the town on August 15th.
He said bringing a potentially acrimonious dispute into Omagh, which had ensured so much heartache recently, was insensitive.

Further Information

Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION

Ref: TC/1233

Published Date: 24-Sep-98

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