Northern Ireland Secretary to continue talks in bid to resolve Drumcree dispute

A solution to the Drumcree dispute is “tantalisingly just a bit far away”, the Northern Ireland Secretary has said. 

A solution to the Drumcree dispute is “tantalisingly just a bit far away”, the Northern Ireland Secretary has said.

Chris Bryant held crunch talks on Monday aimed at resolving deepening tensions around a contentious loyal parade in Portadown.

He described the meetings with the Orange Order, nationalist residents of Garvaghy Road, and political parties as “very positive” and said he was “exploring every option to see whether there’s a solution”.

Asked for an update on his talks, which he said he was prepared to continue on Tuesday on his return from the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Mr Bryant told reporters at Hillsborough: “It’s been positive so far today and sometimes people showing a bit of ankle, and I think an awful lot of people of good faith wanting to get to a good outcome.

“It’s not quite clear what that will look like yet, but kind of, a bit through the mist, I can see maybe what that might look like if I can persuade everybody to sign up.” 

Loyalist supporters and Orangemen face police outside Drumcree Church. Picture: Sunday September 27, Peter Morrison/PA Wire

The Orange Order described its meeting with Mr Bryant as “very constructive”.

Asked if the determination for the Drumcree parade was still live, Portadown district master Nigel Dawson said: “I spoke to the chief constable this morning shortly after seven o’clock, and the determination is still a live document.”

However, later asked if he believed the determination around the parade was still live, the Northern Ireland secretary said he could not answer the question as he was “not a lawyer”.

Meanwhile, the Garvaghy Road Residents’ Coalition told Mr Bryant that it would be open to a mediation process to resolve the parade dispute.

Speaking alongside solicitor Darragh Mackin, Breandán Mac Cionnaith from the coalition said he wanted an international mediator to oversee the process.

Breandán Mac Cionnaith. Picture: Mark Marlow/PA Wire

“We haven’t put conditions on it because we explained to the secretary of state himself why there should be an international mediator.”

Asked what his message to the Portadown Orangemen was, he said: “Why would you want to walk through an area that you know would cause great offence, which would cause great anger, cause great annoyance to many people, when you have an alternative route that is acceptable to everyone but you refuse to accept yourselves?

“We are up for it, if the mediation comes along and the right mediator is there, the right mediator with experience of looking at conflicts that have been caused by similar to our own in Ireland, as a result of occupation.” 

Mr Bryant also met people from Sinn Féin and the DUP as the political fallout from the dispute widened.

Michelle O’Neill, Northern Ireland’s First Minister, rejected claims she showed “gross contempt” for the Assembly after not showing up to be questioned about taking part in the Garvaghy Road protest.

First Minister Michelle O'Neill speaks to the media outside Hillsborough Castle following a meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant to discuss the Drumcree parading dispute. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Speaking after meeting Mr Bryant, she accused political opponents of seeking an “opportunity” to criticise her amid a deepening dispute around the parade in Portadown and defended her presence at the protest as related to her role as deputy leader of Sinn Féin.

She said: “I’m very confident and proud to stand with the community in Garvaghy, and I will continue to do so.” 

Earlier, the DUP vowed to take action against Sinn Féin after senior members, including the first minister, took part in an unlawful protest against the loyal order parade.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson had been facing calls from unionist rivals to collapse the powersharing institutions – but he said he would not be “reckless”.

The Northern Ireland secretary put retention of powersharing as “the most important thing” in his talks, saying the tensions threatened investment in the region.

Speaking to reporters, he said: “I feel frustrated that we’re only just announcing that we’ve had the best economic growth of any place in the United Kingdom and there are enormous opportunities to seize hold of.

“But every time we have problems like this, it makes people go ‘Oh, hang on, hang on. Is Northern Ireland the right place to invest?’ 

“So, I want to say ‘yes, yes, yes’. Let’s exploit every economic opportunity. We can only do that if we have a fully-functioning political system in Northern Ireland.”

Mr Bryant also said there had been no requests from the PSNI to call off the parade under section nine of the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998.

He said: “I believe in the rule of law and I believe that the rule of law should be upheld.” 

He added: “I’m trying to find a solution that really works for everybody so that everybody can hold their head up high – and it’s tantalisingly just a bit far away at the moment, but we’re working on it.”