"Now that Portadown District L.O.L. No. 1 has been afforded the opportunity of public worship by Drumcree parish church I call on them to fulfil their assurances and to disperse, leave the area and go home.

"The calls for peaceful protest must now be backed up by the avoidance and renunciation of any action, acquiescence in any action, or the use of words which could support violence in any way. Once more I express my utter revulsion at any involvement in the protest of loyalist paramilitary members.

"This morning innocent lives could easily have been lost in the bomb attack at Stewartstown. I condemn this deliberate attempt to raise tension and threaten lives.

"Over the past weeks I have been deeply touched by the risks some people have been willing to take to find a just and honourable settlement. They have included people of influence in both our traditions. I regret more were not willing to join us in that search. True leaders of their traditions recognise that their genuine efforts are full of risks and are open to criticism and misrepresentation. But they also recognise that their traditions can only flourish in peace and that violent conflict can only bring pain and chaos. Talking and listening are the only real ways forward.

"The call for a special protest tomorrow, Monday, raises further questions and choices for all of us. If those who call for such action cannot completely guarantee peaceful protest they not only risk further chaos but the complete discrediting of their cause. Evidence abounds of how easily protest can be used by those who have other agendas to follow. Such calls do not and cannot absolve those who make them for responsibility for their words."