Portadown Orange District LOL 1 has claimed a “significant victory” in the long‑running Drumcree dispute, despite the Secretary of State ruling that this weekend’s contentious march cannot proceed.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday night, the District said it had not only “establish[ed] the legal right to walk the Garvaghy Road” but had also “fundamentally crippled the imbalanced parading framework in Northern Ireland”.
The group said: “Our District has maintained our dignity and lawful behaviour, in the face of a lawless mob. Let us be clear: the legal right is established, and it will be exercised.”
The comments follow Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant’s announcement that the parade cannot go ahead as originally determined, after the Chief Constable advised that facilitating the march would require a “major intervention” by police with an “unacceptable risk” of serious disorder and wider unrest.
Portadown District LOL 1 accused the PSNI’s top officer of having “abdicated his responsibility for policing Northern Ireland and capitulated to Sinn Fein and dissident republicans”.
“The consequences for the rule of law, parading regulation and the authority of the PSNI should be self‑evident,” the statement added.
The Secretary of State was also criticised, with the District claiming he had “bowed to the republican mob, and rewarded criminality”.
“Political unionism made clear there would be ‘profound consequences’ if the rule of the republican mob was to prevail. We now look to our political leaders to deliver on that commitment,” the statement continued.
While saying it “understand[s] the immense anger which is tonight engulfing our community”, the District urged calm, and took care to distinguish between frontline officers and senior PSNI leadership.
“We also want to acknowledge the ordinary decent PSNI officers, many of whom are as disgusted by their Chief Constable and senior management team as we are,” it said.
Portadown Orange District LOL 1 confirmed it will hold a press conference on Saturday, with further details to be announced.
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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