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Number limit for Drumcree parade | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
No more than 1,000 people may take part in a march at Drumcree, the Parades Commission has ruled. | |
Its meeting came after the High Court told it to reconsider its decision not to restrict the parade on Saturday. | |
The march was arranged to mark 3,000 days since Orangemen were barred from marching along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown. | The march was arranged to mark 3,000 days since Orangemen were barred from marching along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown. |
The number of 1,000 was originally stated by the Orange Order in their application. | |
Mr Justice Weatherup told the High Court on Friday that Portadown District Lodge on its website had called for Orange Order members throughout Northern Ireland to join the march. | Mr Justice Weatherup told the High Court on Friday that Portadown District Lodge on its website had called for Orange Order members throughout Northern Ireland to join the march. |
But he said the Parades Commission had been told there was no general appeal for support when it made its decision. | But he said the Parades Commission had been told there was no general appeal for support when it made its decision. |
He said the commission had been "given an ill-founded assurance". | He said the commission had been "given an ill-founded assurance". |
Contentious | Contentious |
The High Court ruling came after the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition challenged the commission's ruling on the parade at Drumcree Hill. | The High Court ruling came after the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition challenged the commission's ruling on the parade at Drumcree Hill. |
Each July, the Portadown Orange Lodge attends a service at Drumcree church to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. | Each July, the Portadown Orange Lodge attends a service at Drumcree church to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. |
Since 1998, their homeward route has been blocked by the security forces, following a determination by the Parades Commission. | Since 1998, their homeward route has been blocked by the security forces, following a determination by the Parades Commission. |
The parade has been marked by serious violence in the past, but it has passed off peacefully in the last three years. | The parade has been marked by serious violence in the past, but it has passed off peacefully in the last three years. |
The march has been one of Northern Ireland's most contentious. The route was last used by Orangemen in 1997. | The march has been one of Northern Ireland's most contentious. The route was last used by Orangemen in 1997. |
The Parades Commission was set up in 1997 to make decisions on whether controversial parades should be restricted. | The Parades Commission was set up in 1997 to make decisions on whether controversial parades should be restricted. |