UK bans Orange Order march through Catholic area

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 10 Oct, 09:00 · Archive

The UK government has reversed approval for a Protestant Orange Order parade through a Catholic district in Portadown, Northern Ireland.

The UK government has reversed approval for a parade by the Orange Order, a Protestant fraternal group, through a Catholic district in Portadown after a 13-day standoff. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant announced the reversal on Friday, overruling the Parades Commission, the independent body managing the region's disputes over Orange Order demonstrations. The Orange Order had been barred from marching through the Garvaghy Road since 1998, following years of violent confrontations.

Hundreds of Catholic residents backed by Sinn Féin, the Irish republican party, gathered along the road to celebrate the reversal. First Minister Michelle O'Neill expressed relief on Ireland's Late Late Show, saying residents "have been living with this constant fear and a cloud hanging over them that this unwanted sectarian march was going to be forced down that road" over the 13 days of the standoff.

Bryant called for an end to "all protests, rallies and demonstrations", appealing to prevent further escalation. Street fighting over Orange Order marches contributed to the onset of Northern Ireland's three-decade conflict known as "The Troubles", which ended with a 1998 peace accord that killed nearly 3,700 people.

How it is being reported

• Ireland Catholic residents react to UK ban on Protestant marchIreland Catholic residents react to UK ban on Protestant marchAl Jazeera · 10 Oct, 08:31
• UK bans Protestant march from Catholic area in Northern IrelandAfter a 13-day standoff in Portadown, the reversal thrills Irish republicans and enrages Northern Ireland’s unionists, who had hoped to complete a parade blocked since 1998.Politico Europe · 9 Oct, 22:37

In this story: Orange Order · Chris Bryant · Michelle O'Neill · Portadown · Northern Ireland · Sinn Féin

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