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Annual Drumcree Orange march held | Annual Drumcree Orange march held |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The annual Orange Order parade at Drumcree in Portadown has passed without incident. | The annual Orange Order parade at Drumcree in Portadown has passed without incident. |
Orangemen have been banned since 1998 from going down the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown after their annual march from Drumcree church. | Orangemen have been banned since 1998 from going down the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown after their annual march from Drumcree church. |
After a service at Drumcree Church, about 300 Orangemen and two bands walked to a police gate at the bottom of the hill. | After a service at Drumcree Church, about 300 Orangemen and two bands walked to a police gate at the bottom of the hill. |
Incoming Parades Commission chairwoman Rena Shepherd watched the march. | Incoming Parades Commission chairwoman Rena Shepherd watched the march. |
Ms Shepherd, who replaces Roger Poole later this month, said she hoped to resolve the dispute by next year. | Ms Shepherd, who replaces Roger Poole later this month, said she hoped to resolve the dispute by next year. |
She crossed the police line for an impromptu meeting with the Orangemen and promised to discuss the situation with them. | She crossed the police line for an impromptu meeting with the Orangemen and promised to discuss the situation with them. |
We are confident that among the stakeholders from all sides there's a willingness to engage and hopefully we can build on that Rena ShepherdParades Commission | |
Police chief inspector Jason Murphy said it was welcome that the parade had passed without incident. | Police chief inspector Jason Murphy said it was welcome that the parade had passed without incident. |
"That reflects the responsibility shown by the parade organisers and marchers," he said. | "That reflects the responsibility shown by the parade organisers and marchers," he said. |
He added: "I look forward to a time and circumstances when even this type of scaled-down policing operation is no longer necessary." | He added: "I look forward to a time and circumstances when even this type of scaled-down policing operation is no longer necessary." |
First Minister Peter Robinson is due to hold talks with the Garvaghy Road Residents Group and the Portadown District Lodge this week. | First Minister Peter Robinson is due to hold talks with the Garvaghy Road Residents Group and the Portadown District Lodge this week. |
Mr Robinson said on Friday he had invited both groups to separate meetings aimed at "enabling progress to be made, leading to a resolution of this matter". | |
Ms Shepherd said they "welcomed assistance from any source". | |
"We are confident that among the stakeholders from all sides there's a willingness to engage and hopefully we can build on that," she said. | |
Before 1998, attempts to ban the parade from going down the road resulted in loyalist rioting both in Portadown and across Northern Ireland. | Before 1998, attempts to ban the parade from going down the road resulted in loyalist rioting both in Portadown and across Northern Ireland. |
However, when the 1998 march was forced through the Garvaghy Road it sparked republican rioting. | However, when the 1998 march was forced through the Garvaghy Road it sparked republican rioting. |
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