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Breandán Mac Cionnaith, speaking to BBC News NI, emphasized that any discussions with the Orange Order should be led by the residents of Garvaghy Road. He stated, “It should be up to the host community to set the agenda, not the visitors.” Reflecting on years of conflict, Mac Cionnaith recalled how the community suffered tremendously due to the Orange Order’s actions throughout the 1990s. He said, “The community here has been put through hell by the Orange Order – 1995, 96, 97, 98, continue on.” He also highlighted the absence of apology from the Orange Order during those times, noting they never acknowledged the community’s suffering or offered to use alternative routes for their marches.
The Orange Order maintains that their intentions have always been peaceful. They argue that violence in the 1990s arose because they were blocked from marching along their traditional route, accusing the Garvaghy Road residents of being inflexible. Nonetheless, Mac Cionnaith pointed out how the lasting scars from those past events have led the local people to reject any future Drumcree parades. He challenged claims from some unionists who suggest he does not represent the residents, stating, “I think if anybody goes out onto the Garvaghy Road now and takes a walk round and just asks people… they’ll get the same response – ‘no, it’s over, put it to bed once and for all.'”
Regarding the possibility of mediation talks with the Orange Order, Mac Cionnaith explained that previous contact was always initiated based on the Orange Order’s demand for a parade. He said, “The Orange Order has never, ever accepted the right of this community, or those who represent it, to put forward another possibility, that there should be no Orange march.” While no official date for the parade has been set, Sunday 27 September has been suggested as a potential date. The Parades Commission will review any formal notification of the parade and decide what restrictions, if any, should be applied.
From the perspective of unionist politicians and the Orange Order, the parade down Garvaghy Road should be permitted. DUP leader Gavin Robinson expressed his viewpoint, stating, “There is no benefit to good, positive cross-community relations if that means that one section of the community can deny their neighbours from walking home from church, none whatsoever.” The proposed parade is expected to travel from Portadown town centre to a service at Drumcree Church of Ireland, excluding Garvaghy Road on the journey to the church but including it on the return trip
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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