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Order member in sash expulsion bid

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An Orangewoman expelled from the order in a row over wearing her sash at a funeral has launched a legal bid to be reinstated.
An Orangewoman expelled from the order in a row over wearing her sash at a funeral has launched a legal bid to be reinstated.

The High Court heard Honor Hawthorne was forced out after the event was likened to a paramilitary procession.

Mrs Hawthorne, 40, has brought her action against senior representatives of the Association of Loyal Orangewomen of Ireland.

The case centres on her participation, along with five other women, at the funeral of a friend and fellow member in September 2005.

Mrs Hawthorne, a shop-owner from Markethill who at the time headed up the loyal order's Armagh District No 2, disputes claims that permission was only given to wear regalia inside the church.

She is claiming a subsequent disciplinary process against her was unfair.

Opening the case, her barrister David Scoffield said the family of the late Lily Boyce had asked Mrs Hawthorne for Orange involvement at her funeral.

The court was told she sought permission and was referred up through to the most senior officials.

Issues being contested at trial involve whether the Orangewomen were authorised to wear their sashes while accompanying the coffin.

Mr Scoffield said a charge was brought against his client in relation to unspecified behaviour.

Giving evidence, Mrs Hawthorne told the court she felt herself to be on trial once disciplinary proceedings were commenced.

"I was already found guilty; (that) was my feeling," she said.

It was disclosed that a document setting out the reasons for lodging charges against her included a reference to the event looking like a paramilitary funeral, with Mrs Hawthorne said to be wearing dark glasses.

She told the court she had been wearing prescription glasses for around 20 years.

"I got eye surgery done two years ago. I could not have bright light so I had react to light glasses," she said.

"They are ordinary glasses in a room but when you go outside they darken to sunglasses."

Mrs Hawthorne added that the document made no accusation about her specifically looking like a paramilitary.

The court heard her family had a long-standing history of membership of the loyal orders. She herself joined at the age of 18.

The case was adjourned until next week.

© UTV News

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At 20:25 on 25 March 2010, Rob wrote:
Good luck Honor. Typical of the self imposed 'top dogs' in the Orange Order to single out a long standing and respected member who had the guts to stand up to them. Its time that the order brought themselves to the 21st century and stopped living in the dark ages
At 07:11 on 22 March 2010, heather wrote:
what a waste of money and time , utterly ridiculous to be bringing a case like this to the courts ,, this lady had the permission of the deceased family to wear their sashes ,, a private matter and wish !!!! the orange order is a religious order not a sectarian one !!!! what a lot of hoo ha over this ,, at least there were no masked men and guns !!!!!!! good luck to this lady !!! and the heirarchy in the orange order should be ashamed of themselves !!! to be coming off with such statements like PARAMILITARY and the likes !!!!!!
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