The Northern Ireland Secretary has banned the Drumcree parade from going ahead.
Sir Chris Bryant said “it’s not in the public interest” for the Orange Order march to proceed after he was asked by the PSNI Chief Constable to review the Parades Commission determination permitting the parade.
In response to the announcement, Portadown District Lodge said it “notes the Chief Constable has abdicated his responsibility for policing Northern Ireland and capitulated to Sinn Fein and dissident republicans” as it warned the “consequences for the rule of law, parading regulation and the authority of the PSNI should be self-evident”.
The Secretary of State told the Press Association: “Everybody will have seen over the last two weeks that there’s been a major standoff and a difficult situation in Drumcree and Portadown.“I’ve been trying to find a solution to that standoff.“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.”“Earlier today, the Chief Constable of the PSNI got in touch with me and asked me to look at the original determination by the Parades Commission to see whether it should still stand, and I’ve looked at the changing situation in Portadown, the fact that it’s very difficult for that procession to proceed, and I’ve decided that it’s not in the public interest for it to proceed, and I’ve therefore banned the procession.”
Jon Boutcher triggered the mechanism outlined in the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 earlier on Friday.
In a statement, Portadown District Lodge said it also notes “that the Secretary of State has bowed to the republican mob, and rewarded criminality.
“Again, the consequences should be self-evident.
“Political unionism made clear there would be ‘profound consequences’ if the rule of the republican mob was to prevail.
“We now look to our political leaders to deliver on that commitment.
“We understand the immense anger which is tonight engulfing our community, but we urge calm.
“We also want to acknowledge the ordinary decent PSNI officers, many of whom are as disgusted by their Chief Constable and senior management team as we are.”
A spokesperson said the lodge “have won a significant victory, not only in establishing the legal right to walk the Garvaghy Road, but also in fundamentally crippling the imbalanced parading framework in Northern Ireland.
“Our District has maintained our dignity and lawful behaviour, in the face of a lawless mob. Let us be clear: the legal right is established, and it will be exercised.”
Meanwhile Mr Boutcher has welcomed the decision of the Secretary of State.
“My request was made on the basis of our ongoing assessment that had developed since the original determination was issued,” he said.
“Our position throughout has always been to facilitate the lawful procession permitted by that determination.
“I outlined in my letter to the Secretary of State that my current assessment was that all available, lawful and proportionate options to facilitate completion of the procession had been exhausted.
“Any remaining options would have required a substantial public order intervention that was not assessed to be proportionate, and which would have carried an unacceptable risk of serious injury, disorder and a wider contagion affect across Northern Ireland.
“Further to this, such an operation would in my view have had not only catastrophic long term consequences for trust and confidence in policing, but for the Northern Ireland Executive and the peace process.”
Mr Boutcher continued: “I also outlined in the letter that mediation and political engagement had not produced a sustainable agreement, and the position of the respective parties had become more entrenched.
“Finally, I highlighted that the current and continuing costs and impact upon the Police Service of Northern Ireland were significant and in the context of our existing funding challenges could not be sustained indefinitely.
“I welcome the Secretary of State’s decision. This past two weeks has had a marked impact on relationships within and between communities and the police. It is in everyone’s interest that time and space is now created for conversations about finding long term solutions to this complex and sensitive issue.”
The development comes just hours after First Minister Michelle O’Neill confirmed she has received a letter from police investigating protests over the Drumcree parading dispute.
The deadlock between residents of the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown and the Orange Order has lasted for 13 days.The Parades Commission ruled two weeks ago that the march could pass along the Garvaghy Road with restrictions in place.But the parade, from Drumcree Church into Portadown, did not happen due to a large protest on the Garvaghy Road.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the ban on the Drumcree parade will come as a “significant relief” to the community on the Garvaghy Road.
“It will also be a relief to people in communities right across Northern Ireland, and the island of Ireland as a whole, who were concerned that the situation at Drumcree, if left unresolved, could have had lasting negative repercussions on community relations and reconciliation,” he said.
The Irish premier added: “These past weeks have been very difficult for the people living along the Garvaghy Road and I am glad that there is some closure for them today.
“I want to acknowledge also that the Secretary of State’s decision will be a disappointment to some, including members of the Portadown Lodge and others.
“The events of the past two weeks have been a stark reminder of the essential work of reconciliation.
“My focus in the time ahead will be to redouble efforts to build understanding and consensus across communities and political traditions around a shared future for all who live on this island.
“I encourage and welcome the participation of all political and community leaders in this work.”
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