Drumcree Orange parade again banned from Garvaghy Road

THE ANNUAL Drumcree parade has again been prohibited from the nationalist Garvaghy Road area of Portadown, Co Armagh tomorrow.

The decision maintains the policy of refusing permission for the Portadown lodge of the Orange Order to return to its lodge through the nationalist area in the absence of a locally agreed accommodation.

The Parades Commission, which rules on contentious marches, said in a statement: “This commission is unchanged in its view that local accommodation is the best way to achieve a resolution; that those involved should work towards this resolution; and that there continues to be a sincere desire among people on all sides for some form of acceptable outcome which will allow Portadown to move on.”

It confirmed that “a significant number of meetings with both sides” has been held.

“These steps reflect a genuine and sincere effort on the part of the commission to establish a basis whereby the issues surrounding this particular parade can be discussed and resolved.

‘‘The commission is firm in its view that it does not see the current situation in Portadown as a long-term resolution to the parading dispute in the area.”

The commission believes the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition “is willing to become involved in dialogue which does not rule out any particular route and which includes all options surrounding the parade and its route”.

However, it also recognises that the residents do not believe that the circumstances for dialogue with the parade organisers have been met particularly in regard to the scope of any discussions on the route.

It said: “In the commission’s view the willingness of Portadown LOL No1 to engage in direct discussions represents a significant advance.”