Drumcree parade passes off peacefully
The annual Orange Order Drumcree parade has taken place peacefully in Portadown, Co Armagh.
Following the traditional service at Drumcree Church, a delegation of Orangemen handed a letter of protest to police at the barricade which blocked their return route to the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road.
Members of the Orange Order have been banned from marching down the route since 1998, but local District Master Darryl Hewitt said the order would not give up.
“Our resolve has not diminished over the weeks and months – no-one should be in any doubt – Portadown District are in this for the long haul – we will not be deflected from seeking to achieve our objective,” he said on Sunday.
Mr Hewitt was critical of the Parades Commission as he spoke to the crowd, describing it as “no improvement on previous commissions”.
“On meeting two members of the Commission we were asked such sensible questions such as ‘Why do you Parade to Drumcree Church?’ and ‘Why not just go home the way you came?’
“I am sure you would agree with me that it is rich for members of the Commission after six months to ask such basic questions as these.”
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police would like to thank all those who worked tirelessly to ensure a peaceful event.”
