DUP leader calls Drumcree parade decision a chance to restore unionist trust

The Parades Commission is set to decide later this week whether to allow a reduced, silent Drum Drumcree parade of about 60 Orange Order members on September 27, after a High Court ruling overturned its previous determination. DUP leader Gavin Robinson, after meeting the commission with a party delegation, framed the pending judgment as an opportunity to mend long-standing grievances in Portadown and Upper Bann. He criticized the commission’s past handling of the issue and called for a decision that respects legal and human-rights obligations.

Sinn Féin councillor Catherine Nelson highlighted community anxiety, noting a petition signed by 3,500 residents, while TUV MP Jim Allister warned of a possible legal challenge if the march is denied. The Orange Order, backed by the three unionist parties, says the event will be brief, silent and limited in scale.