Bryant has wilted to parade body: Orange

The Northern Ireland secretary decided yesterday that the five remaining commissioners have his “full backing” after they came under fire from a High Court judge over how they have handled the attempts by Orangemen to walk down the Garvaghy Road in Portadown.

A statement from the Orange Order’s Portadown District last night said it is “remarkable” that Sir Chris is standing by the five commissioners after they “defiantly refused to do the right thing” and resign.

It said Sir Chris had “wilted” in the face of the commission.

Unionists of different stripes last night voiced similar views, with Gavin Robinson saying his decision not to fire the commissioners was “indefensible” while Carla Lockhart said it “does not pass the laugh test”.

It all comes eight days after the High Court issued stinging criticism of the commissioners for flaws in how they dealt with the application for the Drumcree march, with Mr Justice McAlinden pointing to “errors”, “short cuts”, and “sloppy procedures”.

Now that the commission’s refusal decision for that march has been quashed it is understood that Orangemen from Portadown district will apply to parade down the Garvaghy Road on September 27 to coincide with the anniversary of the signing of the Ulster Covenant.

Whilst leaving the commissioners in place, Sir Chris has also now ordered a review into their operations, and though unionists generally welcomed this Jim Allister said it gives Sir Chris something to “hide” behind after he “bottled” his decision to fire the board.

The Loyalist Communities Council has issued an assurance that its members are not threatening violence in relation to Drumcree, and called on republicans “to match our position... and to adhere peacefully to any legal rulings”.

All this came as the Orange fraternity marked the annual Orange Victims Day, remembering the 344 members murdered during the Troubles.