High Court rules Drumcree parade ban by Secretary of State lawful

The High Court has ruled that the decision by Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Bryant to ban the Drumcree Orange Order parade was lawful.

Mr Bryant intervened on 9 October after a two‑week standoff in Portadown, when the Parades Commission had authorised the march to follow its traditional route along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road for the first time in almost 30 years. Large crowds gathered to oppose the parade, and police judged they could not safely escort the march.

Orangemen remained on Drumcree Hill and made several attempts to approach the police line over the fortnight. Following talks that failed to produce an agreement, Mr Bryant imposed the ban.

A judicial review was launched by a member of the Orange Order challenging both Mr Bryant’s intervention and the role of PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher. At Belfast High Court, Mr Justice Scoffield heard that PSNI intelligence indicated dissident groups might have launched gun attacks on police if a route was cleared.

Justice Scoffield concluded that the Secretary of State’s decision was within his lawful discretion, though “highly regrettable” and costly in terms of police resources and community relations. He warned opponents should take no joy in the outcome. An appeal is expected.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: RDNE Stock project / Pexels.