The Orange Order must take action to prevent loyalist paramilitary bands marching alongside its members during parades, a new report has urged.
US-based Irish Parades Emergency Committee (IPEC) and Brehon Law Society said they were alarmed at the presence of loyalist bands displaying flags, emblems and markings at Orange Order marches last summer.
Sean Cahill from IPEC said that despite a legal prohibition of paramilitary displays at parades, international observers had documented the presence of loyalist paraphernalia since 1996.
'The Parading Paramilitarism' report said paramilitary flags, banners and emblems were displayed by band members at marches on west Belfast's Springfield Road, Short Strand in the east of the city, and in Lurgan last summer.
The report also voiced concerns about the close proximity of senior Orange Order officials and elected unionist officials to bands displaying loyalist symbols during parades. It concluded that no official action had been taken to keep paramilitaries out of parades.
Mr Cahill said he would be presenting his findings to both the British and Irish governments.
"People need to document violations and take action to prevent the violations from occurring again," he said.
Frances McAuley from the Springfield Road Residents Association welcomed the report but added that the only way to ease tensions surrounding contentious parades was through dialogue.
A spokesman for the Orange Order said they were hoping to tighten up new rules making it clear that such displays of paramilitarism were unwelcome and that action would be taken against lodges allowing paramilitary groups to participate in their parades.
"The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland has, in the past, and continues to have nothing to with paramilitaries. However, with the best will in the world it is difficult to stop a few undesirable people attaching themselves to Orange events," he said.
Meanwhile, UUP member David McNarry has criticised the secretary of state's decision to extend the Parades Commission review consultation period. Paul Murphy announced that he was agreeing to requests for more time to comment on the Quigley review of the Parades Commission, which proposes replacing the group with two other bodies.
Nationalist politicians were highly critical of the recommendations when they were first made.
The consultation period ended on January 31 but residents groups and the Orange Order asked for an extension.
"There can be no good reason for this delay or to keep in office a body with such a failed track record," Mr McNarry said.
"The government's thinking beggars belief. It should have been concentrating on bringing in the Quigley recommendations in time for this year's marching season. Instead it is to hold back."
