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Number limit for Drumcree parade Number limit for Drumcree parade
(about 6 hours later)
No more than 1,000 people may take part in a march at Drumcree, the Parades Commission has ruled.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.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.The number of 1,000 was originally stated by the Orange Order in their application.
David Jones, a spokesman for the Portadown lodge said the determination was "disappointing" and that he felt the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition had a "veto concerning parades commission decisions".
GRRC spokesman Brendan MacCionnaith said residents were sticking to their decision not to hold a protest.
"Hopefully the Orange Order's right to have a march will be satisfied and the rights of our community to live free from sectarian harassment will be upheld," he said.
The chairman of the commission, Roger Poole, said they were not "giving in" to residents.
"We're not giving in to any party - what we are trying to do is resolve parading disputes," he said.
"Quite frankly it doesn't do us, or the people of Northern Ireland, any good at all for us to be sat in here a few hours before a parade is due to take place talking about these things.
"What is needed is for the Portadown Number One Lodge and the residents in Portadown to sit down, face to face, and have a discussion about these difficult issues."
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".
ContentiousContentious
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.