Removing Garvaghy Road protesters ‘jeopardised’ public safety, PSNI officer says

A senior Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officer has said Orangemen have been unable to complete their parade at Drumcree due to an “unlawful and unnotified protest”.

Unionists and the order have criticised the PSNI operation which has prevented them from completing their parade in the Co Armagh town.

Police Land Rovers remain near Drumcree Church where a small number of Orange Order members remain.

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said a “significant public safety operation” remained in place on the Garvaghy Road.

He said: “Our focus has been, and continues to be, on maintaining order whilst balancing the human rights of all parties.

“We will continue to police this independently and impartially, and will take appropriate and proportionate action in respect of any breaches of the law.

“There was no violence or disorder on the Garvaghy Road at the weekend, this has to be welcomed.

“The overall aim was to keep people safe and that has not changed.

“The Parades Commission determined that Portadown District were permitted to parade on their notified route.

“We were unable to allow them their lawful right because of an unlawful and unnotified protest.”

Mr Henderson said the PSNI had “kept under consideration the police response required” to ensure that the notified Orange parade could pass along the determined route.

He added: “Repeated attempts to get people to move off the road were unsuccessful.

“Our assessment was that to remove, at one stage, an estimated 1,000 people from the Garvaghy Road, including women, children and older people, would have required such a significant use of force that public safety would have been significantly jeopardised, people seriously hurt and disorder inevitable.

“In all of those circumstances, use of police force would have been disproportionate.

“During the course of the day, an evidence-gathering operation was in place and warnings were issued on multiple occasions.

“We have established a dedicated inquiry team who are currently reviewing that evidence and anyone who has broken the law will be investigated.

“As always, these matters will be reported to the Public Prosecution Service, who will independently determine if there is sufficient evidence and if it is in the public interest to prosecute.

“We continue to keep our policing operation under review and engage with all stakeholders.

“I repeat the Chief Constable’s comments for everyone to remain calm and peaceful, and to work with us to help keep everyone safe.”