Police to interview suspected violators of Drumcree parade ruling
Police are moving to the next stage of a criminal probe, sending letters to people they suspect broke the law over the disputed Drumcree Orange Order parade.
A Parades Commission ruling intended to let the Orange Order complete its traditional Drumditch Church to Garvaghy Road march after almost 30 years has been stalled by sizable protests on the road. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher previously warned that anyone found to have broken the law would face repercussions. Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck said police are now entering the next phase of the large-scale criminal investigation, preparing evidential packages and issuing letters to individuals they reasonably suspect of offences, inviting them to be interviewed.
He added that this procedural step is not expected to interfere with the ongoing civil litigation concerning the parade. The civil case remains unresolved, with Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan expressing hope for a swift judgment. The police operation continues while community tensions persist.
Why it matters
The move signals enforcement of legal decisions on a long-standing sectarian dispute in Northern Ireland.
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