Protests erupted in Northern Ireland as hundreds blocked a parade route after a court approved the first Orange Order march down Garvaghy Road in Portadown since 1998, a decision met with fierce opposition from nationalist communities and political leaders. The controversial Drumcree parade, long a flashpoint in sectarian tensions, was cleared by the Parades Commission despite widespread objections, with Sinn Féin condemning the move as reckless. Demonstrators spent the day maintaining roadblocks, underscoring deep divisions over the symbolic and historical significance of the route. The standoff highlights ongoing disputes over parading rights and their impact on local relations.
Sinn Féin leaders join those on streets opposing decision to allow Garvaghy Road parade for first time since 1998Portadown march: latest updatesHundreds of protesters spent the day blocking the route of a hugely contentious parade in Northern Ireland after a court gave late-night clearance for the Orange Order to march on a historically significant road for the first time in nearly 30 years.The loyalist Drumcree parade along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown was given the go ahead by the Parades Commission for the first time since 1998, a decision denounced as “madness” by Sinn Féin. Continue reading...
