A ‘one and done’ Orange parade along the Garvaghy Road could be an option to resolve the Drumcree dispute, and both the order and local residents need to be open to all options to find a “permanent end” to the row, Jon Burrows has said.

He has also warned that the loyal order needs to avoid Drumcree ending up “in parade disputes right across the country”.

However, the Ulster Unionist leader says the current political crisis was “totally avoidable” because the heavily restricted parade could have gone through – and allowed for talks on a permanent resolution.

Sinn Fein has ruled out any form of Orange parade on the Garvaghy Road, with senior figures including the First Minister apparently willing to risk prosecution by taking part in the protest.

placeholder image — Loyalist supporters and orange men face the police outside Drumcree Church, where they have formed a barricade to prevent them entering the Garvaghy Road. Members of the Orange Order were due to take part in the first return parade on the road for almost 30 years. Picture date: Sunday September 27, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Peter Morrison/PA Wire

The party’s local MLA John O’Dowd has ruled out any compromise, saying the solution to the issue existed for 28 years when the parade was banned.

On Sunday night, First Minister Michelle O’Neill asked crowds to stay on the Garvaghy Road, where they were blocking the legal parade from taking place.

“We need you to stay here to twelve o’clock tonight, at least. Do not give up at this stage – we have come this far”, the Sinn Fein leader told the crowd.

Unionist leaders have condemned her behaviour, saying that she is in breach of the ministerial code and pledge of office, and has broken the law.

Speaking to the BBC on the latest developments, the Ulster Unionist Party leader was asked whether he thought the Drumcree dispute was “designed to destabilise by people who would quite happily see Stormont collapse”.

Mr Burrows said: “Well, there are people in Northern Ireland who enjoy a good crisis. Who don't have the best interests of Northern Ireland at heart.

“But we also have to get back to the fact that this was totally avoidable, because there was a heavily restricted determination that could have went through, and perhaps then we could have had discussions.

“Is there a one-and-done option? Is there a way to permanently resolve this?”

Asked if he believed a final parade is an option, the UUP boss said: “Well, I think the the order should be open to all options. I think the local residents should be open to all options – to find a mediated resolution to this that brings it to a permanent end.

“And doesn't actually end up in parade disputes right across the country, which could make things worse for the loyal order.

“So I think there is a need for leadership here on all sides. Calm language by politicians.

“Second of all, we need to support the rule of law. Three, the police need to uphold that – in terms of consequences for Sinn Fein.

“But we don't need leaders coming on the radio panning the police, criticising the chief constable, and wanting to bring our institutions down – because we've got work to do for the people of Northern Ireland”.