The Orange Order has threatened legal action after Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant banned the controversial Drumcree parade following a two-week impasse.
Sir Chris stepped in on Friday night to prohibit the march in Co Armagh. The parade would have taken the Protestant and unionist organisation through a Catholic area for the first time in nearly 30 years.
He said efforts to reach an agreement between the Orange Order and nationalist residents of Portadown’s Garvaghy Road had failed.
The Northern Ireland Secretary had faced mounting pressure to intervene as both sides held firm during the prolonged stand-off.
Residents gathered at Drumcree Community Centre cheered and applauded after the ban was announced on Friday night. However, the Orange Order is expected to challenge the decision in court.
Sinn Féin and the SDLP welcomed the intervention, while DUP leader Gavin Robinson said Sir Chris must explain “what his Government intends to do to restore confidence in the rule of law”.
Irish premier Micheál Martin said the decision would bring “significant relief” to people living on the Garvaghy Road.
Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson said on Friday evening that an emergency judicial review of the Northern Ireland Secretary’s decision was being prepared.
Sinn Fein president Mary-Lou McDonald (second from left) and Breandan MacCionnaith (centre) of the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition speak outside Drumcree Community Centre on Friday night
Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant intervened on Friday night to prohibit the controversial march in Co Armagh
Protesters blew whistles during a demonstration outside the Northern Ireland Office in Belfast on Friday, urging Sir Chris to ban Orangemen from marching along Portadown’s predominantly nationalist Garvaghy Road
Two weeks ago, the Parades Commission ruled that the march could travel along the Co Armagh road, subject to restrictions.
The parade from Drumcree Church into Portadown nevertheless failed to take place because of a large protest along the route.
Earlier on Friday, PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher had asked the Northern Ireland Secretary to reconsider the Parades Commission’s determination.
Explaining his decision, Sir Chris referred to a “major stand off” and described the situation in Drumcree and Portadown as “difficult”.
MORE STORY: More Migrants Are Falsely Claiming to Be LGBTQ+ to Secure the Right to Stay
He said he had sought a resolution through discussions with both Garvaghy Road residents and the Orange Order, but the talks had not produced an agreement.
“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,” he said.
Sir Chris said he had not reached the decision lightly.
“I heard the concerns of people on all sides and I only regret that we could not reach a compromise on a way forward and that many residents across Portadown have felt anxious and worried,” he said.
“With this in mind, I call for all protests, rallies and demonstrations to be stood down. There is no excuse for a continued ratcheting up of tensions.”
Overnight, the Orange Order issued a statement to say it is seeking urgent meetings with Sir Chris and Mr Boutcher in the coming days.
They expressed ‘profound disappointment’ at the decision of the Secretary of State to ‘overrule the legally established rights of Portadown District Orange Lodge No 1’.
They also claimed a ‘capitulation to the threat of mob rule and violence’.
‘This unprecedented action, and the abdication of responsibility by the Chief Constable, can be seen as nothing more than a capitulation to the threat of mob rule and violence,’ they said.
‘In stark contrast, the Brethren of Portadown have complied with the rule of law, exercised restraint and maintained a dignified and resolute stand in the face of intimidation and intolerance.
‘It is evident that those who, in defiance of the law, have been content to stand alongside the representatives of those who murdered 345 of our members, have no interest in extending any degree of tolerance or respect towards those who share an Orange heritage.
‘Furthermore, it is evident that the statutory authorities have neither the will nor ability to uphold the law in this instance.
‘We commend the Brethren of Portadown for their resolute stand and reinforce their message that this is a time for responsibility and lawfulness.
‘We cannot undermine our cause by adopting the illegal and offensive actions of our opponents.
‘Urgent meetings with both the Secretary of State and Chief Constable will be sought in the coming days where their decision making and actions in this matter will be robustly challenged.’