The latest round of talks over the Drumcree parade stand-off, which has now entered a fourth day, are under way.
Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant is hosting delegations from the Orange Order and Garvaghy Road residents at Hillsborough Castle in Co Down.
Parade Blocked Since Sunday
Orangemen have been waiting since Sunday to take part in their parade down the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown. They have tried on several occasions to begin the parade, but have been prevented by police.
The PSNI has said a protest in opposition to the parade on the Garvaghy Road is unlawful but that using force to move protesters risked people getting “seriously hurt”.
The dispute is now set to return to the courts, with lawyers for the Garvaghy Road residents having launched a fresh legal bid to try to prevent the controversial Drumcree march from going ahead. Their latest legal challenge, which argues that the Parades Commission “materially misdirected itself” on the police assessment of the potential for disorder, is set to be heard on Friday.
Delegations Arrive at Castle
An Orange Order delegation was the first to arrive at Hillsborough Castle for talks with Sir Chris on Wednesday morning. The group is made up of Portadown District Master Nigel Dawson, deputy District Grand Master Alastair Power and their legal adviser Jamie Bryson. They did not speak to the waiting media as they arrived.
A delegation of residents from the Garvaghy Road in Portadown arrived about 45 minutes later. The group was led by Breandán Mac Cionnaith, from the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition. Asked what his message for the Northern Ireland Secretary is, Mr Mac Cionnaith said: “I think you know that.”
The two groups are not meeting face to face, but will instead hold separate meetings with Sir Chris in the Edenderry Room in the castle. While both groups were accompanied by legal advisers, they are not taking part directly in the talks.
Political Reactions and Legal Moves
Efforts to call off the parade were brought to Government Buildings in Dublin on Tuesday where Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and deputy leader Michelle O’Neill, Northern Ireland’s First Minister, met Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris.
Ms O’Neill has faced criticism from unionists after she and senior colleagues were among a large crowd that blockaded the road in the predominantly nationalist Garvaghy Road area on Sunday to prevent the parade from passing the route.
On Wednesday morning, TUV MLA Timothy Gaston said he had tabled exclusion motions at the Northern Ireland Assembly for Ms O’Neill and other Sinn Féin ministers in the Stormont Executive. He claimed they “no longer enjoy the confidence of the Assembly” after “participating in the unlawful protest on the Garvaghy Road on September 27 which prevented a permitted parade from proceeding”. He is calling for them to be excluded from holding office as a minister or junior minister for a period of 12 months.
Background to the Dispute
Under parading laws in Northern Ireland, protests must be notified to, and approved by, the Parades Commission adjudication body.
The Drumcree parading dispute, which was associated with violent disorder during the Troubles, has been reignited after the Parades Commission granted permission for a limited parade down the Garvaghy Road for the first time in almost 30 years. At the height of the blockade on Sunday, more than 1,000 people congregated on the road to prevent the parade from the Drumcree Church from passing along the route.
The Drumcree parade down the Garvaghy Road had previously been banned since 1998. On Friday, the commission reversed its long-running determination and granted permission for the parade – a decision welcomed by unionist parties and met with outrage from nationalist and republican parties. Permission was granted for a parade subject to strict restrictions, including a limit of 35 participants and an 8am start time.
