Unionists call for ‘absolutely no violence’ after Garvaghy Road ruling

DUP MP Carla Lockhart and loyalist activist Jamie Bryson told reporters on the steps of the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast that people should “not take to the streets” or get involved in disorder.

Residents of the largely nationalist area launched an appeal against the Parades Commission ruling permitting the Orange Order to walk down the street on Sunday for the first time in 30 years.

On Saturday Justice Patricia Smyth blocked the commission decision, saying the “long-running dispute has the potential to escalate” across Northern Ireland.

The Orange Order appealed against the ruling, with a decision expected later on Saturday.

Ms Lockhart told reporters: “The media reporting that there will be no march tomorrow on the Garvaghy Road is a little premature because we still have the Court of Appeal.

“What we’ve seen from the other side is threats, intimidation, harassment – and the behaviour outside this court today just demonstrates to all unionists and grassroots loyalists how we would be treated in this new fanciful Ireland.

“So the balaclava really has slipped with regard to Sinn Fein and the mob that is trying to rule in Northern Ireland.

“Threats of violence will not achieve your outcome. The rule of law is what we stand for, and we will adhere to.”

Ms Lockhart added: “We have right throughout this process said there should be no violence on the part of unionism or grassroots loyalism.

“Absolutely no violence – we are sorting this via the law, not the rent-a-mob that’s threatening violence and running around Portadown threatening violence to 35 men walking down a street with no drumbeat, no band, peacefully and quietly, in silence. It’s outrageous.”

The head of the Garvaghy Road residents association said there was “no sense of triumphalism” after the ruling as they awaited the outcome in the Court of Appeal.

Speaking to a large crowd outside the court building, Breandan Mac Cionnaith said: “I said this morning that we were going to fight this every step of the way.

“We’ve won the first step – this isn’t over yet, because the Orange Order will lodge an appeal very shortly.

“We’ve got the first step in our favour, we now must ensure that we’ve got the next step in our favour.

“I know the people are very anxious down in Portadown and a lot of anxiety will remain until we get that second decision this evening.

“At the minute, there’s no sense of triumphalism or anything from myself and from other members of our community in Portadown. There’s no celebrations.”

Mr Bryson said unionists were still “very confident” of a positive result.

He told reporters: “I’ve said all along this is a question of law, and when they do actually determine the question of law, we are very confident that will go in our direction.

“Mrs Justice Smyth has made, I think it was described in court as a novel order – I think that’s putting it at its lowest.”

He continued: “I’d just like to say that today, and throughout this process, unionism, loyalism and the Portadown district have conducted themselves impeccably.

“The behaviour of nationalism and of Sinn Fein has been absolutely appalling.

“What we have seen is threats of disorder, of mobilisation.”

Mr Bryson added: “What we say tonight is, we call on everybody in Northern Ireland – be peaceful, be lawful.

“I say to the unionists and young loyalists, don’t rise to the provocation of nationalism and of Sinn Fein. Do not rise to it.

“Do not take to the streets, do not get involved in any disorder.

“We are fighting this in the courts, we will win this in the courts.

“Do not rise to the provocation because that is what they want, and we all want to build a peaceful, rights-based society.

“The Portadown district want to put their hand of friendship out, and what I say to the nationalist republic community is, nobody in Northern Ireland wants to see violence.

“We have a dispute on our hands where both communities fundamentally disagree on the way forward.

“I say that the way we fix that dispute is in that building, and we allow that building and the judicial process to sort it out.

“If at the end of that we win, respect that we’ve won using the law. If at the end of the day you win, ultimately we’ll respect that that’s the legal outcome.

“Let’s stay off the streets. Let’s stop threatening and whipping up tension.”