Police Block 35-Member Orange Order Parade on Garvaghy Road After Overnight Standoff
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 28
Police Block 35-Member Orange Order Parade on Garvaghy Road After Overnight Standoff
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 28
Summary
Police Land Rovers stopped Orange Order members from marching down Portadown's Garvaghy Road early Monday after repeated attempts through Sunday and overnight.
The 35-person parade had been cleared only with restrictions after a court fight, but protesters on the mainly nationalist road prevented the permitted Sunday morning march from going ahead.
Michelle O'Neill joined the protest and urged demonstrators to "stay the course," drawing DUP accusations that the first minister acted unlawfully as police said they were gathering evidence on all sides.
Chris Bryant called for compromise and said no solution had yet been found, while two nearby schools closed Monday and residents' representatives prepared talks with the Northern Ireland secretary and chief constable.
The confrontation revives Drumcree, a dispute that triggered major unrest, riots and killings in the 1990s before the route was effectively barred from 1998 until Friday's ruling.