Drumcree standoff: Northern Ireland Secretary calls for calm as thousands of protesters block Orange Order march

Drumcree standoff: Northern Ireland Secretary calls for calm as thousands of protesters block Orange Order march Having been linked to major civil unrest during the Troubles, the Drumcree parade has faced a prohibition since 1998 - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in The Northern Ireland Secretary has appealed for calm while urging political and community leaders to reach for compromise to resolve a tense parading stand-off in Portadown. The plea from Sir Chris Bryant came as thousands of demonstrators maintained a blockade along the largely nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown, seeking to block a controversial Orange Order march from taking place. Accusations of unlawful conduct were levelled by unionist politicians after Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill and senior colleagues attended the demonstration on Sunday. Regional legislation governing public processions dictates that any counter-protests must be submitted to and approved by the Parades Commission. Because the demonstration along Garvaghy Road was not officially notified, it constitutes an unauthorised gathering. Under their pledge of office, Ms O’Neill and fellow ministers in the Stormont Executive are required to uphold the law. Police officers spent Sunday using loudspeakers to warn demonstrators that blocking the public highway made them subject to arrest. Addressing the crowd on Sunday evening, Ms O’Neill told those gathered to "stay the course" and remain present until midnight at the earliest. DUP leader Gavin Robinson insisted that members of Sinn Féin ought to be held accountable for their conduct. Speaking to reporters in Belfast on Sunday afternoon, he said: "We can’t have a situation where people who have the privilege of holding high office in Northern Ireland so flagrantly disregard the pledge of office and statutory underpinnings of their office," An earlier determination by the Parades Commission authorizing the Orange Order procession to march past Drumcree Church and along Garvaghy Road was upheld by the High Court in Belfast during an "unprecedented" early morning session on Sunday. Having been linked to major civil unrest during the Troubles, the Drumcree parade has faced a prohibition since 1998. Heavy rain fell on Sunday morning as large groups of protesters, many wearing balaclavas, gathered along the route, delaying the procession’s planned 8am commencement. The impasse persisted throughout the day and into the evening, with Orangemen gathered roughly a mile away at Drumcree Church awaiting clearance to march. At approximately 6pm, a group of Orangemen exited the church hall and walked down the hill before being stopped by police. Officers advised senior representatives that commission rules strictly capped attendance on the hill at 35 people. A gathering of supporters assembled alongside the Orangemen. The growing political conflict surrounding the march now threatens to destabilise the powersharing administration in Belfast. When questioned if his party would continue sharing power with Sinn Féin—a move where a withdrawal by either side would trigger the collapse of the devolved executive—Mr Robinson addressed the situation directly. "Our party is maintaining the dignity of the Portadown Orangemen as they have shown determination and patience so will we," Mr Robinson stated. He added: "I can look at you all in the eye today and say we are being plunged into difficult territory because of the actions of people who are expected to be lawmakers in our country breaking the law. "The fundamental principle of upholding the rule of law in this society are sacrosanct and cannot be tarnished." Earlier on Garvaghy Road, Sinn Féin vice-president Ms O’Neill informed journalists that reigniting the debate around Drumcree "brings into question how this whole peace process works". Meanwhile, party president Mary Lou McDonald urged Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris to intervene directly and halt the parade. She asserted that residents living near Garvaghy Road would "not be drawn back to the past". "The Secretary of State needs to intervene. The chief constable of the PSNI needs to intervene and put a stop to this," she remarked. Under current legislation, the Northern Ireland Secretary holds authority to stop a parade should the chief constable request an intervention over fears of severe public disorder. Sir Chris travelled to Northern Ireland on Sunday from the Labour Party conference in Liverpool to conduct emergency talks with key political figures. In statements to reporters in Belfast, Sir Chris remarked that "nobody wants to go back 28 years". He stated: "The whole idea of us coming here is to be able to try and be able to talk specifically face to face to some of the political leaders and some of the community leaders to see if we can get to a settled position," He added: "The truth is everybody has to double down on compromise – that’s what life’s all about – double down on compromise." Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable Jon Boutcher called upon all sides to collaborate in resolving the ongoing dispute. He noted that the police operation was collecting evidence regarding "whatever has been happening from whatever party". "I am hoping we will bring all of today’s events to a sensible and peaceful conclusion," he remarked. Regarding a potential resolution, he said: "There has got to be a longer-term conversation which involves politicians and the people involved in what we have seen in the last 24 hours, trying to find a space that they can resolve these issues." He noted that several "sensible voices" urging restraint had been "listened to by all parties". Prime Minister Andy Burnham made an appeal for "calm on all sides", adding that "big gains made in Northern Ireland, and we don’t want to see things go backwards". Taoiseach Micheál Martin also voiced deep concern over the unfolding standoff while appealing for calm. Mr Martin criticized the Parades Commission’s ruling to permit the march down Garvaghy Road for the first time in nearly 30 years as "incomprehensible and wrong". The legal clearance allowing the parade to proceed was finalized at 2.15am on Sunday following lengthy arguments presented by opposing legal teams. The overnight hearing formed part of three distinct emergency legal actions brought before Belfast courts between Saturday and Sunday morning. Justice Michael Humphreys presided over the final time-sensitive session, which opened at 12.20am on Sunday. In his opening remarks, he highlighted the "unusual if not unprecedented circumstances as it is now 1.45am, with a parade scheduled to begin in just over six hours’ time". In delivering his ruling, Justice Humphreys emphasized legal precedent requiring courts to respect decisions by public bodies, noting "their decisions will not be lightly interfered with". He remarked: "The picture painted here is of a public body which took evidence from the relevant sources, weighed up the key issues which were in play and arrived at a reasoned decision. "The jurisdiction to impugn (a) public body’s decision on that basis is necessarily limited to cases where no reasonable decision could arrive at that outcome and in my view, in this case that threshold has not been met." He further noted: "This court cannot substitute its own view or anyone else’s view for that of the commission." Earlier, Lady Chief Justice Siobhan Keegan, Northern Ireland’s senior judge, similarly described the situation as "unprecedented" while hearing the second legal challenge. Justices Keegan and Humphreys sat alongside Lady Justice Denise McBride in the Court of Appeal late on Saturday to grant an appeal brought by Portadown Orangeman Alan Hynes, permitting the march. That decision overturned a temporary injunction granted earlier on Saturday that would have halted the procession. In that initial ruling, Justice Patricia Smyth suspended the commission’s permission, warning that the "long-running dispute has the potential to escalate" throughout the region. Tensions surrounding Drumcree gained national attention throughout the 1990s as nationalist residents on Garvaghy Road opposed the parade passing through their neighborhood, prompting repeated summer clashes and extensive police operations. For over twenty-five years, the Orange Order has repeatedly sought permission to finish the route it was blocked from completing in 1998. On Friday, the commission overturned its established position, drawing support from unionist politicians alongside sharp criticism from nationalist and republican representatives. The approval permitted the march under strict conditions, restricting participation to 35 individuals and maintaining the 8am start time. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments [Image text:] P WICE POCE