Drumcree: Orange Order chief Mervyn Gibson accuses Parades Commission of hypocrisy in handling parades across Northern Ireland

“But there is no incentive or pressure put on the Garvaghy Road residents to speak to the Orange Order. It is just hypocrisy from the Parades Commission, which is plain for all to see.

“They tried to interfere in a flags dispute recently in east Belfast and we pointed out that they are not the flags commission. But they were threatening to reroute parades if flags weren't taken down from a unionist area.”

The Grand Lodge grand secretary added: “The two things were not connected. That message was sent clearly to them but it didn't stop them trying to interfere, raising community tensions unnecessarily.”

​Portadown District say that they are “determined to complete the parade home from Drumcree” which began on Sunday, July 5, 1998.

A major show of support for the district is expected at Drumcree on Sunday.

A spokesman for the district said: “On that morning Portadown District left morning worship at Drumcree Parish Church and formed up to walk back to Carleton Street in Portadown.

“The police had closed the road – an unelected quango had issued a determination stating that the cycle of parades along this road should be broken.”

They added: “Twenty-five years later, that same unelected, unaccountable quango is still refusing to allow members of Portadown District to parade home from morning worship at Drumcree Parish Church.

“However, the situation is worse, the current Parades Commission is not interested in carrying out its core functions as laid out under the legislation which brought it into existence. They are required to mediate, facilitate and only then issue determinations. The current commission simply copies and pastes previous determinations.”

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart said: “There is little surprise that some people want Drumcree to be forgotten about. That is because the ongoing resolve of Portadown District only serves to highlight the hostility and refusal to engage which prevents the parade from taking place.

“Twenty-five years on, Drumcree stands as an uncomfortable reality for those who like to wrap themselves in the language of rights and of compromise.

“Portadown District stands ready to engage in dialogue or mediation yet that is refused by GRRC (Garvaghy Road residents) and rewarded by the Parades Commission.”

Ms Lockhart added: “Beyond intransigence however, the threat of violence is also rewarded every time this parade is refused permission to complete its route. It is absolutely right that efforts continue to resolve this dispute, but it is incumbent upon wider society in Northern Ireland to recognise that hostility and obstinance from the GRRC does nothing to build a shared future in Portadown or anywhere else.”

A spokesperson for the Parades Commission said: “The Parades Commission considers all notifications in line with its procedural rules and guidelines. The commission has no statutory powers to force parties into mediation.

“In relation to the notification submitted by Portadown LOL 1 for its annual church service, the commission concluded that restricting the route of this parade remains necessary, fair and proportionate, a decision which reflects potential impacts on community relations.

“The commission continues to encourage all parties to this parading dispute to enter into dialogue to achieve an accommodation that reflects the needs of local communities.”

The statement goes on to say: “The commission received objections to a parade taking place in east Belfast on July 1 2023. The commission was made aware that there were ongoing discussions between interested parties – the commission reflected in its determination that it welcomed such positive engagement and encouraged all efforts to reach a local agreement on the issue.

“The commission considered all representations in relation to the parade in line with its procedural rules and guidelines.”