The Parades Commission has allowed the Orange Order to march on Garvaghy Road this Sunday
These are the conditions the Parades Commission has placed on the Drumcree march that was approved this afternoon.
The Parades Commission has allowed the Portadown Orange Lodge to march on Garvaghy Road this Sunday, September 27. It will be the first time in 28 years that the lodge has been allowed to parade on the road.
The original ban started a violent dispute as thousands gathered at Drumcree. The security response was enormous, involving around 1,000 British troops and 1,000 RUC officers.
There were 2,561 public order incidents between 4th and 14th July, including 615 attacks on security forces, 632 petrol bombs thrown and 467 vehicles damaged. The crisis culminated in the murder of three young Catholic brothers, Richard, Mark and Jason Quinn, who died after their home in Ballymoney was firebombed.
The approved parade has had a number of conditions imposed on it, including a restriction to 35 people, only one banner allowed to be flown, and no bands.
The conditions imposed on the parade are:
- No more than 35 persons, including the five marshals named on the Form 111 submitted on 3rd September 2026, shall take part in the parade.
- The parade shall depart from its notified assembly point at Drumcree Church no later than 8am and shall disperse from its notified dispersal place, Carleton Street Orange Hall, no later than 9.30am.
- Only the banner of Portadown District LOL No. 1 may be carried or displayed during the parade as it proceeds along any part of the Garvaghy Road. Noother banners, flags or emblems shall be carried by participants in the parade.
- No supporters shall accompany the parade during any part of its notified route.
- No supporters shall congregate along the notified parade route, including but not limited to the vicinity of the notified assembly point at Drumcree Church, the roundabout at the junction of Dungannon Road, Moy Road and Garvaghy Road and St John the Baptist Church. In addition, no supporters shall congregate in the vicinity of homes on the Dungannon Road and Drumcree Road.
- No bands may participate in the parade during any part of its notified route.
- All participants in this parade must abide by the appropriate conditions of the Code of Conduct; and comply with police directions and act in accordance with legislation.
- The Commission further re-affirms the importance of respectful behaviour in the vicinity of interface areas.
- The organiser and all participants in the parade shall comply with the conditions set out at Appendices A and B to the Commission’s Code of Conduct. For ease of reference, these are reproduced below.
- The parade organiser shall ensure that the parade begins and disperses promptly and that there are no undue delays or stoppages during the parade. Where practicable the parade shall stay close to the near side of the road at all times to minimise disruption and to facilitate the passing of vehicular and other traffic.
- The organiser shall arrange for the presence of an adequate number of stewards to ensure that all parade participants act in an orderly manner.
- The parade organiser shall bring to the attention of stewards the guidance for parade participants contained in Appendices A and B of the Commission’s Code of Conduct.
- The parade organiser shall ensure that all stewards and participants obey any direction given by the police in relation to this parade.
- The parade organiser shall ensure that these conditions are drawn to the attention of all participants.
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