Nationalist and socialist councillors in Derry welcome High Court ruling on Garvaghy Road
Nationalist and socialist councillors in Derry hailed the recent High Court ruling that Chris Bryant’s decision to ban a controversial Orange Order parade from the Garvaghy Road was lawful.
But unionists insisted an original Parades Commission determination that it could proceed from Drumcree church through the predominantly nationalist area of Portadown remained extant.
At the full council meeting for October People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin welcomed the court ruling that the British Secretary of State had acted lawfully in banning the parade.
“I very much see this as a victory for the residents, for the vast majority of people across the North of Ireland, and indeed across this island who believed that that march shouldn't go ahead and that's being demonstrated through the polls,” said Colr. Harkin.
Sinn Féin Councillor for the Waterside Christopher Jackson concurred: “The residents didn't ask for this. This issue was thrust upon them against their will but their response has been first class and I know they have received support from the length and breadth of this island and further afield and that support will continue because we will not be going back.”
Speaking on behalf of the SDLP Catherine McDaid said: “I think most people here would agree that we just need to let the residents of the Garvaghy Road get back with their lives.”
She added: “We are not going to go backwards. We can't allow this part of the world to go backwards.”
UUP Alderman Derek Hussey, however, insisted that the initial Parades Commission determination remained live.
“Let us not forget that the legal determination that the parade would go ahead, the Parades Commission made a legal determination, still exists.
"Now how that is going to be resolved going forward remains questionable,” he said.
DUP Alderman Keith Kerrigan told the council the issue had not been resolved from the perspective of the Orange Order.
“I've heard the term stated 'picking at a scab' - why was this not let go? The difficulty is one side might have felt this issue was closed and resolved. It hasn't been. Portadown District had submitted an 11 /1 [an official parade notification] almost every Sunday since the parade was stopped,” he declared.