Northern Ireland’s Parades Commission may announce by Saturday whether Sunday’s Orange Order march in Portadown can use the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road or must be rerouted. Unionist politicians urged approval despite opposition from local residents.
The march is scheduled to start at Drumcree church at 13:00 BST on Sunday and end on Carleton Street by 14:30. Sixty people are due to walk silently, without bands. The commission’s previous decision to reroute the march was quashed by the High Court in June because proper procedures had not been followed; the new determination could also face a legal challenge.
The Orange Order, Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition and major Northern Ireland parties made final submissions, and police were consulted. The Police Service of Northern Ireland says it has activated “mutual aid arrangements” to support contingency planning for Sunday’s policing operation.
