No breakthrough has been secured in efforts to resolve the long-running Drumcree parade stand-off, Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant has confirmed.
Representatives of Portadown District Orange Order and the Garvaghy Road Residents’ Coalition met Sir Chris at Hillsborough Castle on Thursday evening for what appears to have been the final round of the current talks process.
Following more than two hours of discussions, the Secretary of State said the parties had failed to reach a deal.
“I think this is the end of these conversations. We haven’t come to a settled agreement, and it’s a shame, but my door remains open,” he told reporters afterwards.
A new legal challenge lodged on behalf of residents – aimed at stopping the march from proceeding – is due to take place on Monday.
A rally on the Garvaghy Road, which is expected to attracted thousands, will take place on Friday at 3pm.
Asked about the residents’ latest legal move, Sir Chris said: “We’ll have to see how that plays out,” stressing that “the law, in the end, is the law” and urging “everybody to cooperate with the police”.
Residents’ spokesman Breándan Mac Cionnaith said there had been no “meeting of minds” during the Hillsborough discussions and signalled that the present initiative has effectively come to an end.
Asked if the talks had run their course, he replied: “For the time being, yes. They may want to re-embark upon another process at some stage, but the current process is done.”
From the Orange Order side, Portadown District Master Nigel Dawson said nothing had changed in terms of their legal position.
“Tonight remains as it has been: that we are in possession of a positive determination issued by the Parades Commission,” he said.
“It went through the Court of Appeal and the High Court sat on it and has decided that we have the right to walk down the Garvaghy Road back to Carleton Street Orange Hall, and I would now call on the secretary of state to apply the law.”
With the political talks exhausted for the time being, it remains to be seen whether the Portadown District will continue with their attempts to walk down the Garvaghy Road ahead of Monday’s hearing in the Court of Appeal.
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