Drumcree: Garvaghy Road residents 'deserve to live in peace without shadow of intimidation and fear' says Sinn Féin
The people of Portadown’s Garvaghy Road do not want an Orange Order parade “forced through their area”, Sinn Féin has said.
The Order has announced its proposal to complete its Drumcree church parade – requesting a silent walk down the Garvaghy Road with no more than 60 participants, with no bands.
However, the loyal institution has said that the Drumcree dispute will not reach “a final and lasting settlement” until the full Portadown District is allowed to complete the parade, banned almost three decades ago.
It has proposed the march would take place on the afternoon of Sunday, September 27 – and “ensure there is no disruption to any worship or those coming to or from the local catholic church”.
Reacting to news of the proposed parade, Sinn Féin Councillor Catherine Nelson said the issue of “unwanted Orange marches on the Garvaghy Road is closed”.
She claimed the announcement from the Orange Order “reveals their true intention, which is to re-establish repeated unwanted parades on the Garvaghy Road”.
Cllr Nelson added: “This march is steeped in a history of hate, sectarian violence, and murder.
"It is a supremacist march, and the only reason it wants to go down Garvaghy Road is because it is a nationalist area.
"The people of Garvaghy Road do not want this parade forced through their area. It is a non-starter.
"They deserve to live in peace and to be able to get on with their lives, without this shadow of intimidation and fear hanging over them.
"28 years of peace is not a problem that requires a solution. It is progress that needs protected.
Cllr Nelson described the parade proposal as “a dangerous attempt by unionist leaders to reignite the closed issue of an unwanted march on Garvaghy Road”.
She said: “Unionist leaders and the Orange Order need to respect the wishes of the people of Garvaghy Road and leave them to live in peace.
"Sinn Féin stands fully with the Garvaghy Road community.”