The Orange Order has vowed to take legal action after the Northern Ireland Secretary banned the contentious Drumcree parade, following two weeks of deadlock.
Sir Chris Bryant intervened on Friday night to ban the contentious march in Co Armagh, which would have seen the Protestant and unionist group parading through a Catholic area for the first time in almost 30 years.
He said it had not been possible to find compromise between the Orange Order and nationalist residents of the Garvaghy Road in Portadown.
He had been under growing pressure to act after a stand-off between the two sides who remained resolute in their positions.
There were cheers and applause among the Garvaghy Road residents gathered at Drumcree Community Centre on Friday night, however the Orange Order is expected to take legal action.
Sinn Féin and the SDLP welcomed the intervention, but DUP leader Gavin Robinson said he now needs to ‘explain what his Government intends to do to restore confidence in the rule of law’.
Irish premier Micheál Martin said the decision will come as a ‘significant relief’ to the community on the Garvaghy Road.
Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson said on Friday night that an emergency judicial review was being planned against the Northern Ireland Secretary’s decision.
Sinn Fein president Mary-Lou McDonald (second from left) and Breandan MacCionnaith (centre) of the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition speak outside the Drumcree Community Centre on Friday night
Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant intervened on Friday night to ban the contentious march in Co Armagh
A crowd of protesters blew whistles as they held a demonstration outside the Northern Ireland Office in Belfast on Friday to call on Sir Chris to ban Orangemen parading down the predominantly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown
The Parades Commission ruled two weeks ago that the march could pass along the road in Co Armagh with restrictions in place.
But the parade, from Drumcree Church into Portadown, did not happen because of a large protest on the route.
Earlier on Friday, Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Jon Boutcher had asked the Northern Ireland Secretary to review the determination.
Announcing his decision on Friday, Sir Chris described a ‘major stand off’ and a ‘difficult situation in Drumcree and Portadown’.
He said he had been trying to find a solution, including through talks with both the Garvaghy Road residents and the Orange Order, but said they had not been able to do that.
‘Earlier today, the chief constable of the PSNI got in touch with me and asked me to look at the original determination by the Parades Commission to see whether it should still stand, and I’ve looked at the changing situation in Portadown, the fact that it’s very difficult for that procession to proceed, and I’ve decided that it’s not in the public interest for it to proceed, and I’ve therefore banned the procession,’ he said.
Sir Chris added he had not taken the decision lightly.
‘I heard the concerns of people on all sides and I only regret that we could not reach a compromise on a way forward and that many residents across Portadown have felt anxious and worried,’ he said.
‘With this in mind, I call for all protests, rallies and demonstrations to be stood down. There is no excuse for a continued ratcheting up of tensions.’
Overnight, the Orange Order issued a statement to say it is seeking urgent meetings with Sir Chris and Mr Boutcher in the coming days.
They expressed ‘profound disappointment’ at the decision of the Secretary of State to ‘overrule the legally established rights of Portadown District Orange Lodge No 1’.
They also claimed a ‘capitulation to the threat of mob rule and violence’.
‘This unprecedented action, and the abdication of responsibility by the Chief Constable, can be seen as nothing more than a capitulation to the threat of mob rule and violence,’ they said.
‘In stark contrast, the Brethren of Portadown have complied with the rule of law, exercised restraint and maintained a dignified and resolute stand in the face of intimidation and intolerance.
‘It is evident that those who, in defiance of the law, have been content to stand alongside the representatives of those who murdered 345 of our members, have no interest in extending any degree of tolerance or respect towards those who share an Orange heritage.
‘Furthermore, it is evident that the statutory authorities have neither the will nor ability to uphold the law in this instance.
‘We commend the Brethren of Portadown for their resolute stand and reinforce their message that this is a time for responsibility and lawfulness.
‘We cannot undermine our cause by adopting the illegal and offensive actions of our opponents.
‘Urgent meetings with both the Secretary of State and Chief Constable will be sought in the coming days where their decision making and actions in this matter will be robustly challenged.’
