NORTHERN IRELAND SECRETARY BANS DRUMCREE ORANGE ORDER PARADE

Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant has banned the Orange Order's Drumcree parade through Portadown, overturning a Parades Commission decision. He said the Police Service of Northern Ireland's chief constable had advised him that enabling the procession to go ahead would require "a major intervention" carrying what the chief constable described as an "unacceptable risk of serious injury, disorder and a wider contagion effect" across Northern Ireland. The move follows 13 days of deadlock between the local Orange district lodge and nationalist residents of the Garvaghy Road. Sinn Féin and the SDLP had urged Sir Chris to stop the parade. It had been due to travel from Drumcree Church into Portadown.

The Parades Commission had ruled that the march could go ahead with restrictions, but it did not take place after a large protest formed on the Garvaghy Road. Sir Chris said the commission itself had told him that, given the chief constable's assessment, its original determination "does not now have enduring legal effect", while noting that this is ultimately a matter for the courts. He said the circumstances behind the original decision had changed considerably, concluding the procession could not go ahead as determined. Legislation allows a secretary of state to overturn a Parades Commission determination following input from the PSNI.

The Garvaghy Road has long been a focus of tension between the Orange Order and nationalist residents during the marching season. Sir Chris described his decision as being taken in the wider public interest and in the interests of safety. He confirmed the ban on Friday night, with the story described as still developing and further detail expected. No new date or alternative arrangement for the parade has been announced.