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05 eUrO) Tuesday, July 12, 2011

The pride of Northern Ireland

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Since 1737

Win signed Rory McIlroy prints PAGE 35

Royal couple eyeing quiet life PAGES 10&11

Police record on tricolours challenged
UNIONISTS have challenged the PSNIs record on allowing tricolours to fly across the province after officers removed Union flags in Ballyclare over the weekend. Widely condemned loyalist rioting followed the removal of the flags. The UUPs Danny Kennedy said he was very concerned at the large number of Irish tricolours on Friary Road in Armagh and others queried the police response to tricolours in Ballymena, Enniskillen, Newcastle and Kilkeel. See page 7

Twelfth is now bigger than ever

BY mark raineY
mark.rainey@newsletter.co.uk

SENIOR Orangemen have hailed the Twelfth as bigger than ever as tens of thousands of the institutions members prepare for todays annual celebrations. Randalstown and Comber will host showpiece events as part of the flagship initiative, with a further 16 demonstrations at various venues. Brethren from England, Scotland, Canada and the US will be joining with the 70,000 local Orange lodge members to commemorate the 321st anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne. In keeping with tradition, the largest parade of the day will be the 200 lodges and 70 bands taking part in Belfast, set to be watched by thousands. A bright start to the day is forecast, although clouds during the afternoon may result in the occasional shower. A maximum temperature of 19C is expected. Already the biggest festival in Northern Ireland, parade organisers say the Twelfth as a tourist attraction is developing further each year. The Orange Order director of services Dr David Hume said: This is the sixth anniversary of our Twelfth tourist flagship programme and we believe that it has been a huge success. There is strong evidence that an increasing number of tourists are planning trips to Northern Ireland at that time of year so they can see the parades. See pages 4, 5 and morning View, page 18

Care homes reassurance

RESIDENTS at Southern Cross care homes in Northern Ireland have been assured their well-being will be maintained, despite the announcement that the care home operator is to close down. Health minister Edwin Poots said: We have been assured by Southern Cross that the company will continue to operate its care homes during the forthcoming managed transition of ownership process. See page 14

DUPs gratuity appeal rejected

THE secretary of state has rejected a DUP appeal for him to intervene amid attempts to impose heavy taxes on a gratuity given to former RUC reservists. A NIO spokeswoman said: The secretary of state has discussed this issue with the chancellor and, after careful consideration, the chancellor has confirmed that the law specifies that these payments must be liable to tax. See page 9

Orangeman Leslie Winter, from Portadown, is given a helping hand from his wife Shelagh in preparation for PiCTUre: William Cherry/Presseye todays Twelfth celebrations

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