Orange Order parade halted by NI Secretary amid legal challenge

Summarised from 2 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 12 Oct, 21:44 · Archive

Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant has stopped an Orange Order march down the Garvaghy Road after nearly two weeks of protests.

Sir Chris Bryant, Northern Ireland Secretary, stopped the Orange Order's planned march along the Garvaghy Road in Portadown on Friday night, overturning a decision by the region's Parades Commission to permit the parade for the first time in almost 30 years. The parade had been blocked for nearly 30 years before the Parades Commission approved it last month. Thousands of residents and Sinn Féin representatives, including the party's president Mary Lou McDonald and First Minister Michelle O'Neill, had spent nearly two weeks protesting and blocking the road to prevent the march from proceeding.

Sir Chris said he acted on advice from PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher that allowing the march could lead to serious disorder and potentially 'catastrophic' consequences for Stormont and the peace process. The Orange Order has launched a judicial review challenging the decision. The case has been widened to include Mr Boutcher himself, with the challenge focusing on allegations that he took into account political considerations.

Mr Boutcher defended his policing of the stand-off, saying there had been no disorder during the two weeks and praising his officers' response as 'exemplary'. Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows expressed 'grave concerns' about whether the Chief Constable had crossed a line between politics and policing by citing the survival of the Executive as a reason to prevent the march. Sir Chris rejected accusations he had 'bent the knee' to Sinn Féin or 'succumbed to mob rule', saying his decision was taken to prevent violence.

How it is being reported

• Northern Ireland secretary denies he ‘bent the knee’ to Sinn FéinChris Bryant tells MPs his decision to block a legal Protestant parade has kept the peace in Northern Ireland, where the dispute is splitting the cross-community government in two.Politico Europe · 12 Oct, 21:26
• Chris Bryant rejects claims he bowed to ‘mob rule’ over Drumcree paradeThe NI Secretary thanked the Portadown Lodge and Garvaghy Road residents for their engagement in extensive but ultimately unsuccessful talks.Evening Standard · 12 Oct, 20:18
• Chief Constable stands over Drumcree policing and assessmentJon Boutcher has faced criticism over his advice to Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant.Evening Standard · 12 Oct, 18:05
• Chief Constable’s advice on Drumcree parade to be scrutinised in legal challengeA judicial review of Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant’s decision to stop the parade has been widened to include PSNI chief Jon Boutcher.Evening Standard · 12 Oct, 11:47
• Bryant’s decision to halt Drumcree parade to be challenged in courtNorthern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant acted on Friday night following an almost two-week standoff.Evening Standard · 12 Oct, 02:45

In this story: Sir Chris Bryant · Jon Boutcher · Orange Order · PSNI · Sinn Féin · Parades Commission · Garvaghy Road · Portadown

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem