Thousands of protesters have blocked a predominately nationalist road in the Northern Irish town of Portadown in a bid to prevent a highly controversial Orange Order parade from passing through.
A ruling by the Parades Commission adjudication body permitting the march from Drumcree Church was upheld in an “unprecedented” late night sitting of the High Court in Belfast just a few hours earlier.
Protesters, many of them wearing balaclavas, clustered in large groups in heavy rain along the Garvaghy Road on Sunday morning – a move that delayed the scheduled 8am start of the parade.
Sinn Féin leaders were among those gathered on the road.
The march was finally given the go ahead at a hearing which concluded at 2.15am on Sunday after opposing legal teams outlined their arguments over the controversial parade.
Protesters pictured ahead of the march
PA
The hearing was one of three separate emergency legal cases heard before the courts in Belfast across Saturday and into early Sunday.
The final time-limited sitting, which began at 12.20am on Sunday, was heard before Justice Michael Humphreys.
During proceedings he acknowledged the “unusual if not unprecedented circumstances as it is now 1.45am, with a parade scheduled to begin in just over six hours’ time”.
Outlining his decision, Justice Humphreys cited case law that as a public body the courts must respect the commission’s judgment and “their decisions will not be lightly interfered with”.
What is the Drumcree parade?
The Drumcree parade, which was associated with violent clashes during the Troubles, has been banned since 1998.
The stand-off at Drumcree made headlines in the 1990s, with nationalist residents of the Garvaghy Road opposed to the parade passing through the area, leading to violent clashes for several summers and political tension necessitating a major security operation.
The Orange Order has unsuccessfully applied for more than a quarter of a century to complete its 1998 walk along its traditional route.
On Friday, the commission reversed its long-running determination, to the welcome of unionist parties and outrage of nationalist and republican parties.
Permission was granted for a parade subject to strict restrictions, including a limit of 35 participants and the 8am start time.
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald and vice-president Michelle O’Neill were on the Garvaghy Road on Sunday (Peter Morrison/PA)
What is Sinn Féin’s reaction?
First Minister, and Sinn Féin vice-president, Michelle O’Neill said the reignition of the Drumcree dispute “brings into question how this whole peace process works”.
She said the people of the Garvaghy Road would “not be drawn back to the past”.
Ms McDonald said: “We have spent all night here, all night talking to people, listening to people, seeking to reassure people that actually this can be resolved, and it must be.
“So here is what needs to happen now – the Secretary of State needs to intervene. The chief constable of the PSNI needs to intervene and put a stop to this.
“This is madness. This, in fact, is primitive treatment of any community in the year 2026. It is intolerable, and it will not be tolerated.
“The mood here has been peaceful. It has been united and orderly.
Protesters attended the Garvaghy Road in Portadown on Sunday (Peter Morrison/PA)
“This is a dignified and united community, and they are absolutely determined that they and we will not be drawn back into the past.
“That is the message from Garvaghy Road today.”
DUP leader Gavin Robinson said: “A First Minister’s duty is to uphold lawful decisions, not inflame opposition to them. The rule of law cannot apply only when Sinn Féin likes the outcome. Our institutions are founded on respect for the police, the courts and the rule of law.”
Appeal for ‘calm on all sides’
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appealed for “calm on all sides” over the Orange Order parade, saying there have been “big gains made in Northern Ireland, and we don’t want to see things go backwards”.
Police repeatedly notified the protesters through a loudspeaker on Sunday that they are liable for arrest for taking part in an unnoticed parade. The Press Association understands more people entered the road in the belief the police were sending reinforcements.
The group of Orangemen due to take part in the parade waited at nearby Drumcree Church, having assembled early on Sunday.
A member of the Orange Order outside Drumcree Parochial Hall in Portadown (Peter Morrison/PA)
Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Jon Boutcher appealed to “those with influence to encourage people to comply with the law” as he his officers would detect any offences throughout the day.
He added: “It is incumbent on us all to come together at times like this to do all we can to preserve a peaceful Northern Ireland.”
The Irish Government said it is “very concerned about the situation”.
A Government statement said: “Our primary concern remains to avoid a return to the divisions of the past, recalling the significant progress made over many years in furthering reconciliation under the Good Friday Agreement.”
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