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British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has urged all sides to remain calm ahead of a controversial Protestant Orange Order parade in the Northern Irish town of Portadown, according to the BBC.
The march is scheduled to pass along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road for the first time in almost 30 years. Hundreds of counter-protesters, including Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill and other nationalist politicians, blocked the road before the planned parade, Irish media reported on Sunday.
“I know it’s a tense situation. We do appeal for calm on all sides,” Burnham told the BBC. “There have been big gains made in Northern Ireland, and we don’t want to see things go backwards.”
“Obviously, it is a challenging situation today, but it is very important that we work to bring calm,” he added.
Parade restricted by authorities
The Orange Order, Northern Ireland’s most prominent Protestant fraternal organisation, says Garvaghy Road is part of its traditional marching route. Many Catholic residents oppose the parade, viewing such events as sectarian and triumphalist.
The Parades Commission, the independent body responsible for regulating contentious marches, ruled on Friday that the parade could go ahead. However, it restricted participation to 35 people and banned bands from taking part.
The decision followed 24 hours of legal challenges that continued into the early hours of Sunday. The High Court ruled that the commission’s initial decision allowing the march had to be respected.
Dispute dates back to the Troubles
The dispute has its roots in the 1990s, when attempts by the Orange Order to march along Garvaghy Road became a major flashpoint during Northern Ireland’s conflict, known as the Troubles.
The confrontation contributed to some of the most serious disorder of that period and ultimately led to the creation of the Parades Commission.
Northern Ireland has historically been divided between two broad political communities. Protestants, who are generally associated with unionism, broadly support remaining part of the United Kingdom. Catholics, who are generally associated with nationalism, broadly support Irish reunification.
The Orange Order holds annual marches to commemorate historic Protestant victories in the 17th century. Participants traditionally wear orange sashes and bowler hats.
