Garvaghy Road residents urge parade regulator to block Orange Order march

Ahead of a proposed Drumcree parade on September 27, the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition sent a letter to the Parades Commission urging it to impose limits on an Orange Order march through the nationalist-majority Garvaghy Road. Citing the “extremely violent and lethal circumstances” of earlier demonstrations, the coalition argued that the majority of local residents oppose the route and that the march would jeopardise the economic and social gains made over the past 28 years.

The commission is set to decide on an application for roughly 60 participants, after a recent High Court decision overturned its earlier ruling. SDLP leader Claire Hanna met with the commission, stating there is no appetite for the march and stressing the need to avoid reopening old wounds. The residents warned that a repeat of the 1995 “victory” march, once led by Ian Paisley and David Trimble, could spark renewed policing operations and deepen community divisions.