Garvaghy Road Orange Order parade banned

The Orange Order has again been banned from parading along the Garvaghy Road in Portadown.

The Parades Commission announced on Monday that the Orange Order would not be allowed to process along the Garvaghy Road following a church service on the outskirts of Portadown.

The contentious parade is bitterly disputed by both the nationalist residents along the mainly Catholic Garvaghy Road - who claim the procession is provocative - and the Protestant Orange Order who claim the right to march along the route in full regalia as a part of their tradition.

Last year’s Drumcree stand–off once again saw angry scenes, as the march was prevented from returning along the Garvaghy Road following a church service.

Set up in 1997 as an independent body, the Parades Commission rules on whether or not controversial parades should be allowed to proceed and whether restrictions should be imposed if processions pass close to sensitive areas. Previously the decisions had rested with the province’s Chief Constable.

Speculation that an accommodation had been reached on the parade with residents was firmly denied by Garvaghy Road Resident’s Association spokesperson Brendan MacCionnaith. He said that no discussions had been entered into since the intervention in 2001.

The Orange Order has not been permitted to process along the Garvaghy Road since the parade was controversially given the go ahead in 1997 as the “least worst option”.

In previous years the blocking of the route to the Garvaghy Road and the resulting stand-off near to Drumcree church has resulted in scores of injuries as police and army ensure that the parade is prevented.

(SP)