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Orange Order march permitted in Portadown after nearly 30-year ban

Northern Ireland's High Court has allowed a Protestant march to proceed through a Catholic area of Portadown, reversing a temporary ban.

  • A Protestant parade has been permitted to go ahead on Sunday for the first time in almost 30 years.
  • Northern Ireland's High Court ruled early on Sunday that a Protestant parade may proceed through a Catholic area.
  • The Parades Commission stipulated a march of 35 people, to begin by 8am and finish by 9:30am, with no supporters or bands.

A Protestant march has been permitted to proceed through a Catholic area of Portadown for the first time in almost 30 years, following a ruling by Northern Ireland's High Court early on Sunday.

The High Court dismissed a new application to stop the Orange Order from marching through the area, after the Court of Appeal vacated a temporary injunction granted on Saturday to residents who opposed the parade.

Residents of the Garvaghy Road area had challenged Friday's ruling by Northern Ireland's Parades Commission, which permitted the Orange Order to march along their road. This overturned an almost 30-year ban on the route.

Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O’Neill condemned the late-night court ruling, stating that Sinn Fein supported residents protesting against "this unwanted sectarian march."

The Parades Commission's determination on Friday stipulated that 35 people could take part in the march, which was to begin by 8am and finish by 9:30am, with no supporters or bands allowed.

Why this matters: The original dispute over the route of the Orange Order parade down the Garvaghy Road in Portadown became one of the defining flashpoints of the conflict in Northern Ireland.

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