Ban on Drumcree Orange Order parade was lawful, High Court rules

The Northern Ireland secretary's decision to ban the Drumcree Orange Order parade was lawful, a High Court judge has concluded.

Sir Chris Bryant earlier this month said he would ban the parade after a standoff between Orangemen and nationalist residents of the Garvaghy Road in Portadown, County Armagh, lasted almost two weeks.

The Parades Commission had said the march, set to begin at Drumcree Church, could go ahead on 27 September.

It would have been the first time it had been down the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in almost 30 years. However, a large number of residents blocked the route late into the night.

After Sir Chris stepped in, a member of the Orange Order sought a judicial review into his intervention and the role of PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher.

On Wednesday morning, Mr Justice Scoffield found the decision by Sir Chris was lawful.

"The secretary of state's decision was lawful and within the margin of discretion properly afforded to him, although it was highly regrettable it was required in the circumstances in which it arose," he said.

Mr Justice Scoffield went on to say those opposed to the parade "should take no particular joy in the outcome of this case".

He added: "The secretary of state's decision was lawful but the position which has now been reached has been brought about at very significant cost to the people of Northern Ireland, financially, through the diversion of police resources and in terms of community relations.

"Depressingly the threat of serious and widespread disorder has loomed large in the matters under consideration."

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Mr Justice Scoffield also referred to the ongoing police investigation into alleged breaches of the Parades Commission determination.

First Minister Michelle O'Neill is among a host of Sinn Fein and People Before Profit representatives who have attended voluntary interviews with police in that probe.

The judge highlighted that Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights protects the right to freedom of peaceful assembly.

"Whatever one's standing or strength of conviction, the law does not apply only when you agree with it or with the outcome of a particular legal process. That is one thing which the court is both entitled and in my view duty-bound to point out in the circumstances of this case," he said.

"It is a lesson for those on all sides of the debate in our society which at least for some remains deeply divided along traditional fault lines, such divisions enhance rather than undermine the need for respect both for the rule of law and for the decisions of the legal mechanisms established in our democracy to resolve deep-seated disputes."

He concluded: "I refuse the substantive application for judicial review, the applicant's claim therefore is dismissed."

An appeal is expected to be lodged against the decision.

(c) Sky News 2026: Ban on Drumcree Orange Order parade was lawful, High Court rules