A member of the Parades Commission has resigned after a court case highlighted mistakes over its ruling on the Orange Order’s Drumcree parade.
Billy Gamble had faced the most public criticism over private comments he is alleged to have made about the parade determination.
The chair of the Parades Commission, Prof Evelyn Collins, had said the comments were “out of line” but had no bearing on the decision-making process.
Unionist parties and the Orange Order have called for the commission to stand down, but Prof Collins has said she does not intend to resign.
“We will work hard to regain the trust of all sections of the community,” she said.
Five members of the six-person commission remain in place.
A Northern Ireland Office spokesperson said the secretary of state had accepted Gamble’s resignation and thanked him for his service.
“The secretary of state is determined to support the commission as it rebuilds the confidence of the whole community in its vital work,” they added.
On Tuesday, the High Court quashed a decision to impose restrictions on the annual parade at Drumcree outside Portadown.
The Parades Commission had banned this year’s parade from the Garvaghy Road – a move which reflected every decision it has made since 1998.
The Orange Order’s Portadown District welcomed Gamble’s resignation, saying it was “very unfortunate” it took him two days to do so after the “damning evidence” presented to the High Court.
“In our view, the chair must now also consider her position and take responsibility for overseeing the fiasco that has unfolded,” they said.
“Portadown District confidence in this commission is shattered and we will continue to await developments and see what happens next.”
First Minister Michelle O’Neill said Gamble’s resignation was “entirely a call for himself”.
The Sinn Féin deputy leader said there had been a “misconstruing” of this week’s legal case.
She reiterated that she did not understand “why there are those that want to reopen this dark and difficult chapter of the past”.
The Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) said the commission’s “attempt at tokenism is not enough”.
“Within the commission the buck stops with the chair, who took no stand against Gamble’s outbursts,” the party said.
“She should be next to go and in that at least show leadership.”
