NI secretary to review Parades Commission letter on Drumcree
Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant will take time to consider a letter from the Parades Commission on restoring public confidence after the High Court quashed its Drumcree parade ruling. Commissioner Billy Gamble resigned on Thursday over the handling of the case, but chair Prof Evelyn Collins refused to step down. She pledged to fix the problems identified by the court.
The crisis follows Tuesday's Belfast High Court decision overturning restrictions on the Orange Order's annual march at Drumcree outside Portadown. The Parades Commission had banned this year's parade from the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road, consistent with every determination since 1998. Sir Chris told BBC News NI that confidence in the commission had "taken quite a knock this week" but he was "not in the business of pulling the whole thing down."
Key Takeaways
- The High Court quashed the Parades Commission's latest Drumcree restriction after the body conceded a procedural error.
- Commissioner Billy Gamble resigned; chair Prof Evelyn Collins and four other commissioners remain in post.
- NI Secretary Sir Chris Bryant is reviewing the commission's plan to restore confidence across all communities.
- Unionist parties demand further resignations; nationalist politicians warn against revisiting 1990s-era confrontation.
What triggered the Parades Commission crisis?
On Tuesday, Mr Justice McAlinden quashed the commission's most recent determination preventing the march from proceeding down Garvaghy Road. The Parades Commission conceded the case and requested the court quash its ruling before a full hearing.
Lawyers said not all six members had signed off on the final determination before it was issued last month. Unionist parties hailed the ruling as exposing why confidence in the Parades Commission had collapsed within their community.
Why did Billy Gamble resign?
Billy Gamble faced the most public criticism over private comments he is alleged to have made about the parade determination. Prof Collins said the comments were "out of line" but had no bearing on the decision-making process.
Gamble resigned on Thursday. Five members of the six-person commission remain; only three are needed to make a decision. DUP leader Gavin Robinson called the resignation "an important first step" but said the matter was "far from resolved."
What happens next for Drumcree and Garvaghy Road?
Sir Chris was asked to receive a letter from the commission by the end of Friday outlining a credible plan to enhance public confidence. He said he wanted to be "genuinely assured" of a "coherent plan" backed by all communities.
First Minister Michelle O'Neill visited Garvaghy Road and said residents feared a return to 1990s violence. Sinn Féin councillor Catherine Nelson dismissed Orange Order offers of mediation, saying there will be "no parade down the Garvaghy Road."
The Orange Order confirmed it intends to apply for another Drumcree parade and signalled it would return to court if rejected. Analysts told The Guardian that assembly elections next year may tempt parties to exploit the issue. For broader policy alerts, see our Fintech & Crypto Alerts hub.
Will the Parades Commission survive?
Prof Collins vowed to stay and "work hard to regain the trust of all sections of the community." Sir Chris warned that losing more commissioners could leave Northern Ireland without a functioning body. Prime Minister Andy Burnham called for "a calm and a measured approach."
Robinson said there needed to be a review of the legislation governing the Parades Commission. SDLP leader Claire Hanna acknowledged the commission's mistakes were "a complete mess" but urged people not to ignore 25 years of progress on parade-related disorder.