Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant to ban Drumcree parade

The controversial Drumcree parade is to be banned, Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant has said.

Sir Chris explained that an agreement could not be reached between the Orange Order and local nationalist residents on Portadown’s Garvaghy Road.

An impasse between the opposing groups has now been ongoing for nearly two weeks.

Two weeks ago, the Parades Commission decided the procession could proceed along Garvaghy Road subject to restrictions.

However, the march from Drumcree Church into Portadown failed to take place following a large protest blocking the route.

Sir Chris said: “Everybody will have seen over the last two weeks that there’s been a major stand-off and a difficult situation in Drumcree and Portadown.

“I’ve been trying to find a solution to that stand-off.

“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.”

It comes after the PSNI asked Sir Chris to review the Parades Commission.

He added: “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.”

Meanwhile, First Minister Michelle O’Neill has said she will co-operate with a police investigation after she received a letter from the PSNI probing alleged criminal offences relating to her involvement in a protest against the Orange Order parade on the Garvaghy Road in Portadown.

Ms O’Neill said on Friday she has received a letter inviting her for a police interview in relation to the protest in Co Armagh.

“I will co-operate with the investigation,” she said in a statement.

“For the last two weeks, I have stood in solidarity with the Garvaghy Road residents as attempts were made to force an unwanted Orange march through their community.

“I will continue to stand with the Garvaghy Road residents who should be allowed to live in peace and free from sectarian intimidation.

“Because it is always right to stand up for what is right. And there can be no going back.”