Belfast court quashes restriction on contested Drumcree march

A Belfast High Court ruling has quashed the latest decision preventing an Orange Order march from proceeding along Garvaghy Road in Portadown, reopening one of Northern Ireland’s most sensitive parading disputes.

The court acted after the Parades Commission accepted that its decision-making process had been flawed. The ruling concerns the commission’s most recent determination barring the route, rather than granting immediate permission for a future march.

The Orange Order has sought for years to complete the route through the mainly Catholic Garvaghy Road area. The commission has prevented the march from using the road since 1998, after confrontations around Drumcree contributed to wider sectarian violence during the early period of the Good Friday Agreement.

Unionist politicians welcomed the court decision and renewed criticism of the commission. Nationalist leaders and local residents warned against any return to the disorder associated with the dispute in the 1990s.

One commissioner, Billy Gamble, resigned after the ruling. Commission chair Evelyn Collins said she would remain in place and work to restore public confidence. The Orange Order indicated that it could return to court if a new application for next year’s march is rejected.

The decision is likely to keep the dispute active ahead of the next Northern Ireland Assembly election and the July 2027 marching season. Political leaders have called for a calm response while the commission reviews its procedures.