Parades Commission Drumcree: Sir Chris Bryant meets commission about High Court judgement

The Parades Commission, which adjudicates on contentious marches, has blocked the Orange Order from marching along the Garvaghy Road in Portadown in July every year since 1998.

At the High Court in Belfast on Tuesday, this year’s determination was quashed after the court heard the determination had not been considered in its “final form” by all members of the commission.

The judge said he had “no hesitation” in making the ruling – and that to ensure public confidence in the event of “shortcuts” and “sloppy procedures” it was important the details were placed in the public domain.

Mr Justice McAlinden said it was “a case which does not stand up to any scrutiny at all”.

The judgement has seen many unionists call for resignations of the commissioners involved.

In a statement, the Parades Commission said it had already “implemented procedural changes to address the issue identified in the proceedings”.

The news has put a huge amount of scrutiny on the Parades Commission.

In a statement this evening, a Northern Ireland Office spokesperson said: “The Secretary of State has today met with the Chair of the Parades Commission, Professor Evelyn Collins.

“During their discussion, the Secretary of State expressed serious concern over the issues highlighted in the High Court judgment relating to the Orange Order’s annual Drumcree parade.

“He reiterated his view that public confidence in the Commission has been damaged and needs to be restored.

“As a result, Sir Chris has asked for written assurances that:

:: All of the Commission’s decision-making processes are fair and robust;

:: The Commission as a whole, and the Commissioners individually, act independently and impartially at all times; and

:: The Commission has a credible plan to enhance public confidence across all communities

“Sir Chris has asked for a response by close of play on Friday,” the spokesman added.

Upper Bann DUP MP Carla Lockhart said it is “welcome the Secretary of State is treating this matter seriously” but countered that “regrettably assurances from this Commission, no matter how rhetorically loaded they may be, will not suffice”.

She added: “The Secretary of State rightly set the test as being the Commission commanding the support of all communities. Unionism has been very clear: only resignations will suffice.

“Aside from anything else at least one of the Commissioners Mr Gamble, given what has come out, could never conceivably in public law terms sit on any decision pertaining to the loyal orders. He therefore simply cannot discharge his functions, even aside from the public confidence issues.

“I am also calling for an independent investigation, ideally Judge led, into the Parades Commission, its governance and structures and the legislative framework itself.

“For example, at the very least there should be a statutory appeal to the High Court enshrined within the legislative framework in order to provide applicants the opportunity to have decisions judicially scrutinised on their merits without having to resort to Judicial Review proceedings on public law proceedings.”

Meanwhile, Aontú has warned against what it says are “renewed attempts to force an Orange Order parade down the Garvaghy Road”.

Deputy Leader and East Derry rep Gemma Brolly said: "The people of the Garvaghy Road have made their position clear for decades. The recent determination by the High Court is based on a procedural complaint, as opposed to the merits of a parade in Portadown.

"Nationalists across the North accommodate various parades every year. Those parades take place through towns and cities with large nationalist populations, often with considerable disruption to local communities.

"Residents and businesses have the right to have their voices heard in relation to disruption, tensions and potential violence in areas where they live and operate.

“Drumcree was one of the most bitter and dangerous disputes of the 1990s. It fuelled sectarian tension, violence and instability far beyond Portadown. It is for those reasons that the Parades Commission have consistently imposed a determination on a parade down the Garvaghy Road. The material considerations leading to those determinations have not changed."