Orange Men Attending Kerr Funeral Face Disciplinary

Two senior Ulster Unionists are to face Orange Order disciplinary hearings after attending the funeral of murdered Catholic Policeman, Ronan Kerr.

UUP Leader, in the North, Tom Elliott and Assembly Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy were summoned to the hearings after a formal complaint was made about both men by a lodge in Sandy Row, south Belfast.

Hundreds of police officers, political leaders and members of the Gaelic Athletic Association attended the former player's mass.

As members of the Orange Order however, Mr Elliott and Mr Kennedy are forbidden from taking part in Catholic Masses.

The complaint alleges the two men "have sold their principles for political expediency", while a spokesman for the Order said: "The complaints procedure will be a private matter."

A source close to the men said they had "no regrets" about attending Constable Kerr's funeral, that they did the right thing and they had no hesitation in giving support to the Kerr family.

However, the widow of another murdered policeman has condemned the Orange Order ban on members attending Catholic funerals as "antiquated".

Kate Carroll's husband Constable Stephen Carroll was the first police officer to be killed since the formation of the PSNI, when the Continuity IRA shot him in Craigavon in March 2009.

Mrs Carroll said Mr Elliott and Mr Kennedy had also attended Mass for her husband and that she admired them for taking this stand.

Speaking about their attendance at her husband's funeral, she said: "It was groundbreaking. I was delighted to see that people as prominent as them were there to show solidarity with police."

She said it was "extremely noble and brave" of them.

Former senior Orangeman, Reverend Brian Kennaway, said the disciplinary action was "an embarrassment" for the lodge and stated: "Multitudes of Orangemen through Ireland either attend marriage ceremonies or funerals. They see it as paying their respects and as their duty."

"The vast majority of people, including the leadership are embarrassed by this."

(JG/DW)