TUV leader Jim Allister welcomes ‘restoration of Portadown District's human rights’ as parade along Garvaghy Road given green light
TUV leader Jim Allister has welcomed the "restoration of Portadown District's human rights" after the Parades Commission gave the green light for a planned Orange parade on the Garvaghy Road in Portadown this Sunday.
The Parades Commission had blocked the order from marching along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown in July every year since 1998.
However, an application for this Sunday has been given the go ahead by the Parades Commission – but with a number of stringent conditions in place.
The parade has to start from Drumcree Church at 8am and no more than 35 people will be allowed to take part.
Furthermore, only the banner of Portadown District LOL No. 1 may be carried or displayed during the parade as it proceeds along any part of the Garvaghy Road, whilst no supporters are to accompany the parade or congregate along the parade route or in the vicinity of homes on the Dungannon Road and Drumcree Road, and no bands may participate.
Reacting to the news, Mr Allister said: “TUV welcomes that after years of bias and perverse decisions the Parades Commission has finally applied the law correctly.
“Though the imposed conditions as to numbers and time are churlish, the important point is the re-establishment of the human rights of Portadown District.
“I commend the Orange District for their tenacity and unwavering commitment over almost three decades. Now, at last, they are to be allowed to complete their 1998 parade.
“I trust those who exposed their own intolerance in trying every trick to frustrate this parade will now accept the rule of law. That is the test for them!
“Portadown District has obeyed every adverse decision for 28 years. Now, let’s see if, as they ought, the objectors can adopt the same attitude to this lawful determination.
“The rule of law should be the winner here.”
Earlier this month, representatives of the three unionist parties including Mr Allister, DUP MP Carla Lockhart and UUP councillor Kyle Savage sat with the leaders of the Portadown District of the Orange Order during a press conference when they revealed they had made an application for a “limited” parade along the Garvaghy Road.
Mr Allister told those in attendance that it was an “equitable way forward to bring their banner home”.
“This is about righting an historic wrong, it is quite unbelievable that for three decades the legitimate right to complete a church parade by the local district has been frustrated and prevented,” he said.
“Yet with great tenacity, with great patience and total peacefulness, the district has maintained their presence and now come to the point where they’re taking a position as an equitable way forward to bring their banner home, and I think that by any standard is a rational and reasonable request.
“The district has done the right thing, and they have my support in what they are proffering.”