Orangemen await decision on march ban

The Northern Ireland Parades Commission was due to announce today if it will overturn a ban on an Orange Order march through a nationalist area of Portadown.

The commission delayed for 24 hours yesterday a decision on the controversial Drumcree march which is due to take place this Sunday.

It is understood the delay was to facilitate a meeting which would not take place ahead of today.

On Monday, Orangemen were told that for the fourth year running they would not be allowed to return from their Battle of the Somme church service at Drumcree via the nationalist Garvaghy Road.

The ban prompted fears that hard-line loyalist paramilitaries could exploit the Drumcree ban.

Those fears were heightened following the killing yesterday of Catholic teenager Ciaran Cummings in Antrim as he made his way to work.

Portadown Orangemen argue they should be allowed to follow their traditional route on Sunday back to their hall in the town.

They have refused to recognise the right of the Parades Commission to curb marches and will not engage in direct dialogue with Garvaghy Road residents’ representatives who they claim are fronts for republicans.

The residents’ group insists it is truly representative of its community.

It opposes a march taking place on the Garvaghy Road without direct dialogue.

The commission agreed to review its decision after a meeting with several politicians on Monday including a delegation of unionist councillors.

Among the delegation was leading Portadown Orangeman David Jones, who insisted he was not representing the Order but was there as an independent unionist councillor.

RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan and representatives of the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition met commission members yesterday.

A spokesman for the Garvaghy Road residents, Breandan Mac Cionnaith said they had urged the Parades Commission at their meeting to ‘‘hold firm’’ on its decision to ban the Drumcree march in the face of unionist pressure.

Mr Mac Cionnaith said: ‘‘The fact that the RUC Chief Constable was in before us was of concern and obviously we have to wait 24 hours to see what emerges.

‘‘However, I see no reason for the commission to reverse the ban. The commission clearly stated in its determination on Monday the conditions as it saw them and, as far as I can see, none of those conditions have changed.’’