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Orange Order 'won't make deals' to solve Drumcree dispute

Mark SimpsonCommunity correspondent, BBC News NI
News imageBBC Portadown District Master, Nigel Dawson BBC
Portadown District Master, Nigel Dawson claimed the Orange Order had a "legal right" to complete the 1998 parade

The Orange Order in Portadown has insisted it will not make any deals to try to walk down the Garvaghy Road.

Portadown District Master Nigel Dawson spoke after a meeting at Carleton Street Orange Hall in the town, which lasted two and a half hours.

The order plans to apply for another Drumcree parade after restrictions imposed on its planned parade last month were quashed in court.

It said it will make a significant announcement about this on Thursday morning.

News imagePA Media A wide view of Drumcree Church and its surroundings. The building, which has a tall spire, stands at the edge of a large graveyard and in front of an almost empty car park. There is a small collection of houses lining the road close to the church and there are fields in the foreground and stretching out into the distance. PA Media
Since 1998, the Parades Commission has imposed restrictions on the local Orange lodge's route back from a service at Drumcree Church outside Portadown

Dawson said: "We have a legal right to complete this parade and we go to enforce that right using the law.

"Secondly, there will be no deals made by Portadown District with the government or anyone else.

"To be clear there have been no offers made but should anyone be considering making one we wish to make clear there is no amount of funding, investment or inducements that would buy Portadown district."

The future make-up of the Parades Commission remains in doubt while the Secretary of State, Sir Chris Bryant, considers whether he believes they can rebuild confidence lost as a result of the court case.

The order in Portadown has called for the remaining commissioners to resign and for a judge-led review be held.

This would include looking at the governance and legislative framework of the Parades commission.

News imageThe front view of the exterior of an Orange Order building on Carleton Street, Belfast. The large, symmetrical three-storey building is constructed of red brick with ornate cream detailing around the arches of its windows on the ground and second floors. A sign above the main entrance says "Orange Hall" with 1908 written above the door. Three flags including the union flag fly from flag posts on the building.
The meeting took place in an Orange hall in Carleton Street, Portadown

"The review must include an investigation into the events surrounding this court case," Dawson said.

"The person charged with conducting the review should have full access to all commission documentation and the review should be conducted over the shortest period of time with a public-facing report."

Monday night's meeting in the Carleton Street hall involved the order's Portadown district, with 28 lodges invited to send representatives.

Among those who attended were the DUP MP Carla Lockhart, DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley, TUV leader Jim Allister and loyalist activist Jamie Bryson.

When the Order applies for another parade it would include walking along the largely-nationalist Garvaghy Road on the order's return from a service at the Church of Ireland at Drumcree.

Sinn Féin councillor Catherine Nelson last week said such a parade was "off the table" as residents would not agree to it.