(Bimpe Fatogun, Irish News)

The Orange Order has played down a threat by its grand lodge in Co Derry to "disaffiliate" from the Ulster Unionist Council and reclaim its share of the body's assets.

The county grand lodge has unanimously declared a vote of no confidence in UUP leader David Trimble.

At the meeting in Magherafelt, the county grand lodge also threatened to "commence the procedures necessary to disaffiliate" from the Ulster Unionist Council.

It claimed that in doing so it would also "seek its share of the council's assets".

The Co Derry Grand Lodge has also recommended that district lodges refuse to allow meetings of "any political group or organisation which does not reject in writing the Joint Declaration" to take place in an Orange hall.

It is also demanding written assurances from members chosen to contest any future assembly elections that the candidate selected "rejects the Joint Declaration and that he will not support any leader that fails to do so".

However, a spokesman for the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland insisted the Co Derry decision did not necessarily reflect the views of the entire order.

"Any disaffiliation would have to be through the grand lodge of Ireland and we don't have a meeting until September," he said.

"The grand lodge only takes votes on issues if they have garnered enough support...

"There is currently an intense debate within the institution, as there is within unionism generally.

"Both David Trimble and Jeffrey Donaldson are members of the Orange Order and while there may be people who have severe doubts about Brother David Trimble's stance, there are also people who have severe doubts about Brother Jeffrey Donaldson's."

However, anti-agreement Ulster Unionist and Assistant Grand Master of Ireland, Willie Ross, said the declaration by the grand lodge in Co Derry represented the "boiling cauldron within unionism".

"I think it is a reflection on the absolute fury at the way things have went since the Joint Declaration was issued," Mr Ross said.

"The Orange Order was one of the foundation groups within the Ulster Unionist Council and they would naturally have an interest in the the assets of the UUC.

"Some people within the order quite clearly feel that if they're going to walk away from or be shoved out they have a right to their assets," Mr Ross said.

This article appeared first in the June 28, 2003 edition of the Irish News.

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