Portadown: Rallies take place in Portadown over Drumcree dispute

Rallies are being held in Portadown on both sides of the Drumcree parade dispute as the stand-off between Garvaghy Road residents and the Orange Order continues.

It comes after the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said a "major public safety operation" will continue in Portadown this weekend.

Speaking at an event on the Garvaghy Road, First Minister and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O'Neill said she heard the Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant "talk about being between a rock and a hard place", adding she has "never heard such nonsense, this is between right and wrong".

Speaking at Drumcree church, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP Carla Lockhart repeated calls for PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher and his officers to "do their job" and facilitate the parade, describing the current impasse as "mob rule".

The fallout over the proposed march - which is opposed by residents of the Garvaghy Road - has lasted since Sunday morning.

Huge crowds have turned up on the Garvaghy Road on Saturday to support local residents.

A smaller event is being held in the Edgarstown area in Portadown in support of the Orange Order.

O'Neill said that "if this British government isn't prepared to end this crisis, then it's up to the thousands here, to collectively stand with the Garvaghy Road residents".

She said: "We will stand shoulder to shoulder for as long as it takes."

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll told the event that "earlier this year they came for migrants, now they're coming for the residents of the Garvaghy Road".

Former SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly said: "Never again did we think we'd be on the Garvaghy Road again to say no going back and no Orange Order parades in the Garvaghy Road."

Speaking to BBC News NI at Drumcree, Lockhart said there could be "repercussions for a very long time if mob rule wins over the rule of law".

Asked if we had stepped back from the "abyss" cited by both Lockhart and a High Court Judge in reference to last week's court proceedings, Lockhart was firm that no progress had yet been made.

"No, we need the police service to step up and do their job. I do think if the real residents step forward we can and should discuss further options and resolutions, because we do want to see this resolved," Lockhart said.

"Where I see the abyss is for the PSNI. It needs community and political support and if they allow mob rule to win in NI, I think we are staring down the abyss in terms of confidence in the rule of law."

Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant said he was "concerned at the prolonged standoff" which he said was "ultimately in nobody's interests".

"I have been working with all those involved to find a mutually acceptable solution," he said in a social media post on Saturday.

He said he was grateful to those engaging in dialogue, adding that it was "a crucial time" for Northern Ireland and he hoped compromise could be found.

"Leadership is never easy at moments like this but I commend all those who are trying to get to a solution."

A spokesperson for Fianna Fáil said the taoiseach believes "now is a time for us to be calm and careful in what we say", adding there is a "history of hurt around Drumcree".

They said: "While no agreement has been reached, it is crucial that channels of communication remain open."

What is the Garvaghy Road dispute all about?

An uneasy peace – how a week of the Drumcree parade dispute has unfolded

The PSNI said it was "continuing to seek safe and peaceful compliance" with the Parades Commission's decision that the Orange Order parade could go ahead with restrictions.

On Wednesday, the PSNI Chief Constable said there would be an investigation after protesters blocked the mainly nationalist road to prevent the parade from happening.

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said on Friday that the "investigation into anyone suspected of breaking the law related to this dispute is continuing at pace".

He added that the PSNI are doing "everything we can to maintain order and ensure the safety of everyone" in Portadown.

"I want to thank those officers from Police Services in England and Scotland who have been in Northern Ireland supporting our efforts over the past week," he added.

"Finally, I want to repeat the Chief Constable's appeal for calm and for all parties to refocus efforts on working to find a lasting resolution to this issue."

Protesters have remained on Garvaghy Road and the Orange Order has maintained a presence at Drumcree Church after talks to end the parading dispute ended without agreement on Thursday.

A fresh legal bid by the residents to prevent the march was due to be heard on Friday - but has now been postponed until Monday.

Meanwhile just after 22:00 BST on Friday, Portadown Orangemen made another attempt to parade down the Garvaghy Road.

As has been the case with repeated attempts this week, a senior PSNI officer stopped them at the bottom of Drumcree Hill.

Drumcree was one of Northern Ireland's most serious parading disputes, when stand-offs over attempts by the Orange Order to march along the Garvaghy Road were accompanied by riots, roadblocks and killings.

When the Orange Order was prevented by police from walking down the route in July 1995, there was a tense stand-off. It was the same for the next three years.

In 1998, the newly-established Parades Commission ruled that the Orange Order should not march down the road - a decision that was upheld for the past 28 years.

The row re-emerged last month after a court case in which a ruling by the Parades Commission was overturned, and a fresh application to parade was lodged.

Last Friday, the commission decided that the march could go ahead with restrictions in place.

However, that decision was challenged in several Belfast courts on Saturday, before finally being given the go-ahead just hours before it was due to take place .

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