Court Hears Dissident Republicans May Have Mounted Gun Attacks on Police

Dissident republicans may have launched gun attacks on police if officers had cleared a path for an Orange parade on Garvaghy Road, the High Court has been informed. The court is currently hearing a legal challenge against the secretary of state's decision to ban the Drumcree parade, a decision made based on security advice.

During the proceedings, a lawyer representing an Orange Order member initiating the case presented intelligence material from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). According to this material, it was deemed "almost certain" that dissidents were present among protesters and "possible" that they had access to firearms. The lawyer further stated that these weapons could have been used to attack police officers, and that petrol bombs might have been deployed in anticipated disorder following any police action to remove protesters.

Reliable intelligence indicated that mainstream republicans were concerned about their ability to control dissident republicans and prevent potential disorder, the court heard. The intelligence documents referenced included one titled "feelings of PIRA."

The legal challenge was brought by a Portadown Orangeman against Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant and Chief Constable Jon Boutcher. This intervention by Bryant ended a two-week standoff that occurred when protesters blocked the Garvaghy Road parade route. The applicant alleges that Boutcher's decision was influenced by "wholly political" considerations that were irrelevant to policing decisions, thereby invalidating his advice and "infecting" the secretary of state's ultimate decision. The applicant also claims that Bryant exhibited "scatter gun decision-making" and "misdirected himself," and made a "fundamental error" by giving equal weight to a lawful parade and an unlawful protest.

The hearing, initially scheduled for the previous week, was delayed after the Orange Order added the chief constable to the case. Mr. Justice Scoffield indicated that a swift decision would be made either later this week or next.