Drumcree: Legal bid to overturn march ban fails

An attempt to overturn the Northern Ireland secretary’s decision to ban the Drumcree parade has failed.

The High Court in Belfast has ruled that Sir Chris Bryant’s decision made on 9 October was lawful.

The judicial review was brought by a Portadown Orangeman against Sir Chris and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Jon Boutcher.

The secretary of state’s intervention to stop the parade came after he received security advice from Boutcher.

A lawyer for the Orangeman told the court that an appeal of the judgment is “likely”.

The Drumcree dispute led to a stand-off between Orangemen and nationalist residents of the Garvaghy Road in Portadown lasting almost two weeks.

Mr Justice Scoffield said: “The secretary of state’s decision was lawful and within the margin of discretion properly afforded him, although it is highly regrettable that it was required in the circumstances which arose.”

He said those who opposed the march should “take no particular joy in the outcome of this case”.

The judge added that “the position which has now been reached has been brought about at very significant cost to the people of Northern Ireland – financially, through the diversion of police resources, and in terms of community relations”.

“Depressingly, the threat of serious and widespread disorder has loomed large,” he said.

He went on: “Significant concerns have now been expressed about respect for the rule of law in this jurisdiction.

“That includes among some elected representatives, by reason of their participation in the unnotified protest.”

Speaking afterwards, the Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris said that he was “grateful that he (the judge) has said that not only did I act lawfully but this was the right decision”.

He said it was “not a cause for celebration,” and said prohibiting the parade was a “last resort”.

He said: “I also wholeheartedly agree with the judge that the rule of law must be upheld. Everyone and especially elected officials must uphold the law at all times and not just when they agree with it.”