Northern Ireland Secretary Bans Drumcree Parade Amid Stand-off
Sir Chris Bryant cited failed attempts to reach an agreement between the Orange Order and nationalist residents as the reason for the ban.
Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant has announced a ban on the Drumcree parade following an nearly two-week stand-off. The decision came after efforts to broker an agreement between the Orange Order and nationalist residents of the Garvaghy Road in Portadown proved unsuccessful.
The dispute centers on the Protestant Orange Order's traditional parade route, which passes through the predominantly Catholic Garvaghy Road. Marchers have been prohibited from using the road since 1998 due to past unrest. However, the Parades Commission recently ruled that the procession could proceed with restrictions, reigniting the long-standing conflict.
The parade, intended to travel from Drumcree Church into Portadown, was blocked by a large protest on the Garvaghy Road. Sir Chris stated that he had engaged with both the Garvaghy Road residents and the Orange Order to find a resolution but acknowledged that no agreement could be reached.
"I've been trying to find a solution to that stand-off," Sir Chris told PA. "I've had both sides of the argument, both the Garvaghy Road residents and the Orange Order in. We've been talking it through, trying to find a solution, and unfortunately, we've not been able to do that."
He further explained that the Chief Constable of the PSNI had requested a review of the Parades Commission's original determination. Considering the evolving situation in Portadown and the difficulty for the procession to proceed, Sir Chris determined that banning it was in the public interest.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson criticized the decision, asserting that the framework for parading and protests in Northern Ireland is now in disarray. He attributed the Chief Constable's conclusion to republican agitation and the threat of violence, stating that such decisions undermine the rule of law and reward those who are loudest.
"These decisions are a mistake, and send profound signals that the country should be run on force of numbers and who shouts the loudest," Robinson said. "The framework for both parading and protests now lies in tatters and the rule of law has been fundamentally undermined."
Robinson called for the PSNI to investigate lawbreaking transparently and hold those responsible accountable, adding that the Secretary of State must explain the government's plan to restore confidence in the rule of law. He emphasized that the actions of violent republicans should not be rewarded at the expense of the law-abiding majority.