The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Sir Chris Bryant MP, has ruled that the contentious Drumcree parade is to be banned.
In a formal statement, Sir Chris confirmed he had reviewed the Parades Commission’s original determination for the Portadown District Loyal Orange Lodge march scheduled for Sunday, September 27, 2026, after an application from the Chief Constable under Section 9 of the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act.
He said the Chief Constable had advised that allowing the procession to go ahead would require “a major intervention” by police which carried “an unacceptable risk of serious injury, disorder and a wider contagion effect across Northern Ireland”.
The Parades Commission, he added, had indicated that in light of the Chief Constable’s current security assessment, its original determination “does not now have enduring legal effect”.
Related: Portadown Orange District calls for ‘profound consequences’ after Drumcree march banned
“Consequently, and in the interests of wider public interest and safety, I’ve come to the conclusion that the circumstances under which that decision was made have now changed considerably,” Sir Chris said.
“As a result, the procession cannot go ahead as it was determined.”
The Secretary of State said he had “not taken this decision lightly”, noting that the Portadown District had “a lawful determination from the Parades Commission allowing the procession”, and thanked Portadown LOL No. 1 for their “peaceful and law-abiding approach” and co-operation with the PSNI.
Sir Chris revealed he had spent the past two weeks attempting to broker a deal between Portadown District Loyal Orange Lodge and Garvaghy Road residents, including several rounds of talks at Hillsborough Castle, but that “it has not been possible to achieve a local resolution”.
“I don’t think anyone wants to see the stand-off continue into another weekend, with the consequent risk of protests spreading to other parts of Northern Ireland and the further deterioration of community relations,” he said.
“Nobody wants a return to the past, which is why people want this stand-off to end – and end soon.”
Calling for immediate de-escalation, he urged that “all protests, rallies and demonstrations be stood down”, adding: “There is no excuse for a continued ratcheting up of tensions.”
Sir Chris said he was “grateful to those who have behaved peacefully and legally and sought to ease tensions” and that “those who have acted unlawfully should face the consequences of their actions”.
He acknowledged the anxiety felt by residents in Portadown during the prolonged impasse, saying the town had been “on the sharp end of intense attention for a number of weeks”.
“It will take time to rebuild relations. The least we can all do now is give them breathing space,” he said.
“Looking ahead we will need to work together to help repair the damage that has been done and to resolve this issue. I will continue to do all I can to bring the community together over the coming weeks and months.”
Meanwhile, the Chief Constable of the PSNI, Jon Boutcher, has welcomed the decision of the Secretary of State, Sir Chris Bryant.
Speaking about the decision, the Chief Constable said: “This morning, I wrote to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, to formally request him to review, under section 9 of the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998, the determination made by the Parades Commission under section 8 in respect of the notified public procession by Portadown District Loyal Orange Lodge No 1.
“My request was made on the basis of our ongoing assessment that had developed since the original determination was issued. 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.
“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.”
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