Sinn Féin calls on Taoiseach to meet residents over Drumcree dispute

Sinn Féin MLA John O'Dowd has asked the Taoiseach Micheál Martin to visit the Garvaghy Road and speak to residents about the Drumcree dispute.

O'Dowd said he was concerned there had been no visible engagement from the Irish Government on the issue.

The earliest date for a decision by the Parades Commission on the planned Drumcree march by Portadown Orange Order is 23 September – four days before the scheduled parade.

The route the Order hopes to take - including the mainly-nationalist Garvaghy Road - has been published on Parades Commission website.

The taoiseach's office has been contacted for a response.

On Thursday Portadown Orange District said on social media that the Parades Commission have appointed a surprise mediation facilitator.

Portadown District said it had confirmed their readiness to commence the mediation process as a matter of urgency without any preconditions.

The Parades Commission has been contacted for comment.

On Thursday evening Garvaghy Road residents met to discuss the Orange Order's application to parade down the road.

Speaking after the meeting, O'Dowd said "the reality is there is no requirement for an Orange Order march down the Garvaghy Road".

"There is no support for an Orange Order march through this community on a return parade," he said.

O'Dowd called Westminster, and particularly the Irish government, to "listen to this community".

"There is a responsibility on the Irish government to stand up for the rights of these citizens."

The Sinn Féin MLA added that many in the unionist community are "aghast" at the Orange Order's proposal.

Breandán Mac Cionnaith, a spokesperson for the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition, said they had rejected the Parades Commission mediator on the basis they were not neutral.

"The organisation appointed had actually been employed to do mediation work on behalf of the Orange Order," he said.

Mac Cionnaith added that signatures are being collected from households from around the area in support of preventing the parade.

He said the signatures will be provided to the Parades Commission as evidence that the "vast majority of people" want the march re-routed.

"The commission, and those above them in government, must take good notice of this."