Portadown Orange District remains at Drumcree Church with calls for the PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher to resign
Portadown Orange District has called on PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher and Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson to resign after a number of failed attempts to march down the Garvaghy Road.
The District was given permission for the march to take place on Sunday morning. A High Court challenge resulted in a judge asking for the march to pause for more information.
However, in a very late night challenge, another judge overturned that temporary halt and asserted the parade is allowed to march through the mainly Catholic Garvaghy Road.
Residents and their supporters numbering in the thousands converged on the Garvaghy Road to protest the decision and a tense stand off ensued.
A strong PSNI presence was visible on the fringes of the Garvaghy Road and including at the road leading to Drumcree Parish Church where the Orangemen had marched to.
Several attempts were made to continue the march however they were halted at a PSNI line on the Drumcree Road including one at 9.30am on Monday morning.
Nigel Dawson
District Master of Portadown Orange District Nigel Dawson, speaking on Monday morning at Drumcree Parish Church, the Parades Commission ruling still stands and they are prepared for mediation after the march completes down the Garvaghy Road.
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"We offered and were prepared to enter mediation prior to the Parades Commission sitting and issuing its determination. They have now done so and therefore given us permission to complete our parade and that’s been underpinned by a High Court judge,” said Mr Dawson.
"Portadown District remains open to mediation to try and bring a permanent solution to this problem,” he said.
Portadown Orange District LOL 1
In a statement Portadown District said it ‘shares the anger of the wider unionist community in respect of the PSNI’s abject failure to police and give effect the lawful determination in our favour’.
"There are no words which could express the depth of anger felt by members of this District and the community from which we come.
"The Chief Constable has treated this community with distain, flatly refused to uphold our rights, and most shockingly of all has approached this matter, which is at its core a conflict between the lawful and the unlawful, as something requiring resolution.
"The resolution was and is to simply police the lawful determination. They said they would police any determination, but then actively failed to do so when Sinn Fein and nationalists objected. This shows you the community with whom the PSNI’s true priorities lie.
"Both this District and our community have remained lawful and peaceful, as we promised we would. The PSNI have failed us, and rewarded illegality.
"There is a lawful determination in respect of our route. We demand the PSNI now give effect to this determination and inform of us as to the start time of our lawful procession to now commence, given it has hitherto been frustrated by the PSNI’s actions.
"The PSNI have failed to uphold the law. They have capitulated to Sinn Fein and nationalism, and now to rub salt into the wounds of our community, the Chief Constable and Secretary of State is to meet with one of the leading figures in orchestrating the illegality and mob rule, Mr McKenna.
"We wish to make clear. We aren’t going anywhere. We stand ready and require our determination, which has legally been determined in our favour, to be given effect.
"There is no circumstance whereby we will compromise upon this determination being fulfilled. A legally binding decision is not something requiring ‘resolution’: it has itself resolved the matter.
“Finally, given the sheer incompetence of the PSNI’s operation; we believe both the Chief Constable and ACC Henderson, the gold Commander, should resign.”
Carla Lockhart
Meanwhile Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart met with the Secretary of State.
She said: “He is in no doubt about the urgency of this . He has 24 to 48 hours to ensure the rule of law is upheld and the parade proceeds in line with the Parades Commission’s determination.
"If that does not happen, the consequences for will be profound!
"Folks we remain four square with the Portadown District and the rule of law. Mob rule cannot defeat the rule of law.”
Lawyer Jamie Bryson, who was involved in the High Court case, said: “There is a very simple question which now exists at Drumcree.
"The Portadown District are in possession of a lawful determination which, as a matter of law, permits them to complete their traditional route and requires PSNI to facilitate that.
"That must now occur. This will not resolve until it does, should it be hours, should it be days or should it be weeks. The law must be upheld.
"PSNI have failed in their duty thus far, but that is not the end of the matter. A continued failure is not a resolution; given they are- as it stands- continuing to block the route against the determination, the issue now sits with them.”
Jonathan Buckley
DUP Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley said: “The simple question is this: what threat is posed by 35 men (some over 80 years old) parading down a road? Either the rule of law is upheld, or it isn’t.”
Gavin Robinson
DUP leader Gavin Robinson, speaking after meeting the Secretary of State said: “We can’t have lawbreakers think they can do it with impunity. No wonder Michelle O’Neill is staying on the Garvaghy Road amongst her friends and chums.
"She’s not going to come here and get arrested or investigated or prosecuted for a clear breach of the law. That’s what she is doing. Her executive colleagues are doing it and her Assembly colleagues are doing it too.”
"So the simple question is this: at what time does the Portadown District LOL No 1 parade home commence?”