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17/07/2001
FRESH ROW BREAKS OUT OVER DRUMCREE MARCH
THE Parades Commission has responded to comments made by a senior Portadown Orangeman over the issue of last-minute bid to march along the nationalist Garvaghy Road.
On Sunday 15 July, Nigel Dawson, District Secretary of Portadown Orange Order District Lodge, tore up a letter from the Parades Commission outside police lines at Garvaghy Road, a in gesture designed to symbolise Orangemen’s disgust at the ruling.
The letter, branded by the District Secretary as an “insult”, ruled that the Lodge could not proceed with its planned march on that day. Mr Dawson described the situation as beyond rational belief, stating that as it had been only a week since the banning of the Drumcree Sunday parade, the Order had had no time to give the required level of notice. He went on to describe his displeasure at what he inferred as the dismissive tone of the letter, on the grounds that it had been sent by a civil servant not directly linked to the Parades Commission.
However, the Parades Commission have refuted the claim that the missive was intended as an insult, and said it ‘deplored’ the use of selective quotations in a move intended to display the commission in a bad light.
Commission chairman Tony Holland said: “The law requires 28 days notice for notification of a parade, but does allow for late notification ‘as soon as is reasonably practicable’, and that reason for the delay must be given.
“In this case, we were advised that the late notice – which was submitted just before midday on Saturday, just over 24 hours before the parade – was because they had fully expected to have been allowed their parade on Sunday 8th July.”
Mr Holland went on to say that the commission wished to reiterate that it would not entertain applications for a parade which are only submitted one day before the event, and that the commission has still not received any new application from Portadown Orangemen for another Sunday march at Drumcree. (CL)
On Sunday 15 July, Nigel Dawson, District Secretary of Portadown Orange Order District Lodge, tore up a letter from the Parades Commission outside police lines at Garvaghy Road, a in gesture designed to symbolise Orangemen’s disgust at the ruling.
The letter, branded by the District Secretary as an “insult”, ruled that the Lodge could not proceed with its planned march on that day. Mr Dawson described the situation as beyond rational belief, stating that as it had been only a week since the banning of the Drumcree Sunday parade, the Order had had no time to give the required level of notice. He went on to describe his displeasure at what he inferred as the dismissive tone of the letter, on the grounds that it had been sent by a civil servant not directly linked to the Parades Commission.
However, the Parades Commission have refuted the claim that the missive was intended as an insult, and said it ‘deplored’ the use of selective quotations in a move intended to display the commission in a bad light.
Commission chairman Tony Holland said: “The law requires 28 days notice for notification of a parade, but does allow for late notification ‘as soon as is reasonably practicable’, and that reason for the delay must be given.
“In this case, we were advised that the late notice – which was submitted just before midday on Saturday, just over 24 hours before the parade – was because they had fully expected to have been allowed their parade on Sunday 8th July.”
Mr Holland went on to say that the commission wished to reiterate that it would not entertain applications for a parade which are only submitted one day before the event, and that the commission has still not received any new application from Portadown Orangemen for another Sunday march at Drumcree. (CL)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
