Drumcree stalemate continues as protesters remain overnight

Protesters remained on the Garvaghy Road overnight as the Drumcree parade dispute continues.

The main parties involved in the dispute in Northern Ireland are still in a stalemate, following a day of political talks and heated exchanges at Stormont.

Talks to resolve the issue took place on Monday as members of the Orange Order waited to begin their permitted parade, which was due to take place on Sunday morning, and walk down the mainly-nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown.

Orangemen also maintained a presence at Drumcree church overnight on Monday, but were smaller in number than previous nights.

They spoke to officers at the police line near the church in an attempt to march down the Garvaghy Road.

However, there did not appear to be any serious expectation that would happen.

Christopher Nelson, who was 11 when his mother, the solicitor Rosemary Nelson, was murdered by loyalists in 1999, said the current situation had brought back memories of that time.

Rosemary Nelson represented several high-profile clients including prominent republican Colin Duffy and the Garvaghy Road Residents Association.

Nelson said he "dreaded the summer holidays approaching" because he knew his mother "would be spending a lot of time on the Garvaghy Road".

"With that came the worry about what was going to happen her when she was out there. Is mum coming home tonight and if she is, is she going to be okay?"