Portadown Orange District to appeal High Court ruling that the Secretary of State's decision to ban its march on the Garvaghy Road was lawful
Portadown Orange District is to lodge an appeal against a High Court decision which ruled the Secretary of State for NI decision to ban its parade on the Garvaghy Road was legal.
Following the ruling on Wednesday a District statement said: “We very much welcome the damming comments of Mr Justice Scoffield today in respect of the unlawful mob which amassed against our lawful parade.
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"Importantly, we welcome the clear recognition that our legal right was established, and it was “thwarted” by unlawful activity and the threat of disorder emanating from those opposed to the parade.
"We will now be lodging an appeal in respect of the PSNI and Secretary of State, but more importantly our District will now proceed toward ensuring the legal right established is vindicated, and we will exercise it.
"We note the damning commentary of the Judge in respect of the lawbreakers, and ask, in particular that these concluding remarks are given careful consideration by our political leaders.”
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart said: “The Judge states clearly: ‘the Lodge’s right to process along the notified route has been established, subject to conditions deemed appropriate by the Commission. As a result of the events of the following weeks, significant concerns have now been expressed about respect for the rule of law in this jurisdiction. That includes amongst some elected representatives, by reason of their participation in the unnotified protest’.
The Upper Bann MP said: "Whilst no one will be surprised by Sinn Fein’s lawlessness, the SDLP must now be feeling very uncomfortable about the mob they allowed themselves to be caught up in.
"It is noted the judgment has now revealed more intelligence information, which now makes clear PSNI has established (rather than suggesting a mere ‘possibility’) republicans had brought weapons to Garvaghy Road and did intent to use them. This is part of the mob with whom Sinn Fein and SDLP stood arm in arm.
"Importantly, Mr Justice Scoffield is damming in his criticism of the elected politicians who have sought to place themselves above the law. There is no one more caught by this scathing criticism than the self-proclaimed Michelle O’Neill.
"The Judge pointedly said ‘whatever one’s standing or strength of conviction, the law does not apply only when you agree with it or with the outcome of a particular legal process’.
"It is quite clear profound consequences can no longer be avoided with any credibility,” said Mrs Lockhart repeating her demand that Michelle O’Neill must be removed from office.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson described the outcome at the High Court as “not what we would have wanted”.
He said: “The judge starkly said: ‘The law does not apply only when you agree with it’. Michelle O’Neill and Sinn Féin take note. The rule of law must and will apply.”
UUP leader Jon Burrows urged those who ‘blocked the Garvaghy Road’ to ‘read this judgment before claiming victory’.
“In my view, this is a damning indictment of Sinn Féin’s political leadership throughout this dispute.
“The court’s warning applies to everyone in public office: you cannot demand respect for the law while selectively disregarding it yourself.”