Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant has announced the prohibition of the disputed Drumcree parade following a failure to broker an agreement between the Orange Order and nationalist residents along the Garvaghy Road in Portadown. The confrontation between the two communities had persisted for nearly two weeks.
Two weeks prior, the Parades Commission had determined that the march could proceed along the Garvaghy Road subject to specific restrictions. However, the scheduled procession from Drumcree church into Portadown failed to take place due to a substantial demonstration blocking the route.
Speaking to PA Media, Bryant described the situation in Portadown over the preceding fortnight as a major standoff and a difficult scenario, noting that he had engaged with representatives from both the Garvaghy Road residents and the Orange Order in an effort to reach a resolution without success.
Bryant explained that the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland contacted him earlier in the day to request a review of the Parades Commission's original ruling to assess whether it remained viable. Taking into account the evolving circumstances in Portadown and the severe difficulties preventing the procession from moving forward safely, Bryant concluded that allowing the march to continue would not serve the public interest and consequently issued a ban on the event.