The Orange Order has been repeatedly linked with both the UVF and UDA in recent years.
In May of this year Scottish Orangeman Steven Moffet pleaded guilty to UDA membership and possession of a gun, ammunition and clothing.
In 2004 Liverpool Orangeman Alan Clair was described as being "exceptionally dangerous" as he was jailed for eight years for possession of a UVF arsenal.
Uncovered inside Clair's home was a sub-machine gun, 300 rounds of ammunition, three sawn-off shotguns, two pistols and UVF clothing.
In November 2003 the father of UVF murder victim John Allen resigned from the Orange Order claiming that his son's killers had been allowed to remain within the institution.
"I did not want to do this as I have been proud to be a member of the Orange Order for 28 years and my father was a member for 45 years," John Allen snr said.
"But I cannot belong to an organisation that also counts my son's killer as a member."
In 2000 the order was criticised for taking part in a commemoration to UVF man Brian Robinson who was shot dead by undercover soldiers minutes after he murdered Ardoyne Catholic Patrick McKenna.
The order was again criticised in 2003 after it allowed a banner commemorating Robinson to be included in the controversial Whiterock parade in west Belfast.
Further anger was caused after it emerged that the banner had been carried by a member of the notorious Shankill Butchers gang.
There was outrage in March 1999 after it emerged that the man convicted of the murder of Co Down schoolboy James Morgan was allowed to stay in the Orange Order. Norman Coopey later resigned after public pressure.
In 2004 the order was forced to admit that it sat alongside the UVF and UDA on the North & West Belfast Parades Forum.
