The Court of Appeal in Belfast is due to hear a challenge today regarding the decision to permit a controversial Orange Order parade along a predominantly nationalist road in Portadown. The hearing is scheduled to begin at approximately 10:30 BST.
The application argues that the Parades Commission, which approved the march, "materially misdirected itself" concerning the police assessment of potential disorder. It also claims the commission did not provide an "accurate representation" of PSNI evidence in its decision.
The dispute over the proposed march, which residents of Garvaghy Road oppose, has been ongoing since last Sunday morning. The parade from Drumcree Church into Portadown did not proceed last Sunday due to a large protest on Garvaghy Road.
Lawyers for the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition (GRRC) issued a fresh legal bid on Tuesday to try to prevent the march. Discussions aimed at resolving the dispute have been ongoing, and PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher discussed the matter at a public meeting of the Policing Board on Thursday. The policing operation related to the Drumcree parading dispute has so far cost about £3m.