Orange Order granted permission for Drumcree parade

The Parades Commission of Northern Ireland has allowed the Orange Order parade at Drumcree to proceed in a limited capacity for the first time in 28 years.

The five-person panel announced its written determination online, confirming that the

Portadown District Orange Order branch can march along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road.

The statement said there were a number of conditions attached to the granting of the application.

No more than 35 people will be allowed to take part in the parade. The march should not depart from Drumcree Church no later than 8am and will disperse by 9.30am.

No supporters are allowed accompany the parade

Garvaghy Road residents said they are opposed to the march and said they are shocked by the decision.

Yesterday, Garvaghy Road residents said they will "mobilise" and "come together" if the Orange Order parade was allowed to march through their community.

The Orange Order has been seeking to complete its Drumcree parade along the Garvaghy Road in Portadown for the first time in almost 30 years.

The Parades Commission had blocked the order from marching along the Garvaghy Road in July every year since 1998.

The Portadown District of the Orange Order, backed by the three unionist parties, had said it would be a much reduced number of people taking part in a silent parade for a short time on the Garvaghy Road.

The Drumcree parade dominated headlines in the 1990s when violent clashes and political tension necessitated a major security operation for several summers, as Garvaghy Road residents rejected the march passing through the community.

A number of people were killed during tensions in the 90s linked to the dispute.

More to follow...