Portadown Orange leaders were today considering their next move after the Parades Commission refused to review its ban on their Garvaghy Road walk.

And a senior Ulster Unionist today slammed the Commission as a "blight on developing community relations" after it turned down the review request.

Assembly member David McNarry argued the Commission had been bullied by nationalist anger over its Whiterock parade u-turn last weekend and repeated his party's demand that it should be scrapped.

Portadown lodge spokesman David Jones said he believed it was the first time the Commission had refused to review a decision over the Drumcree walk.

He said the lodge's legal team would today be considering whether "there are other avenues worth pursuing" such as a possible High Court case.

Sinn Fein Assembly member Dolores Kelly said, however: "The issue of marching down the Garvaghy road is over, it's a dead issue.

"The Parades Commission has made its decision. The only resolution of this situation now is for the Orange Order to sit down and talk directly to representatives in Garvaghy Road."

The Commission said there had been no new evidence presented which could change its view that the Garvaghy Road walk from Drumcree Church of Ireland would be detrimental to community relations.

Mr Jones said however: "My own view is that the Commission is not carrying out its function and the qustion must be asked whether it has given in to the threat of violence.

"What more does Portadown District have to do to show we are genuine in wanting to resolve this issue? Logically, after Sinn Fein met with the Commission yesterday, you have to ask who is pulling who's strings?"

Mr McNarry said: "The decision not to even allow Lodge Number 1 the liberty of a review is further confirmation of our opinion that the Parades Commission are a blight on developing community relations. It should be scrapped.

"It is clear that the Commission were subjected to hostile republican abuse over the Whiterock decision and have been frightened into taking this appalling decision regarding Portadown." 1st July 2004 Belfast Telegraph