Stalemate over Orange Order parade as Northern Ireland secretary seeks solution

The Northern Ireland secretary is looking for a solution "through the mist" to the dispute between loyalist marchers and republican protesters over an Orange Order parade.

Sir Chris Bryant said a resolution to the stalemate around the contentious Drumcree march was "tantalisingly just a bit far away" after he held talks with both groups.

He said that "a bit through the mist, I can see maybe what that might look like if I can persuade everybody to sign up".

Issues emerged on Sunday after a last-minute court hearing gave the Orange Order's parade permission to go down its traditional route along Garvaghy Road in Portadown for the first time in nearly 30 years.

As of Monday evening, the march through the predominantly nationalist area still had not gone ahead, with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) halting it each time due to concerns about mass protest.

A handful of Orange Order members have attempted to cross the police line during the day at Drumcree, sometimes taking off their collarettes, but have been stopped each time.

Around a mile away, a small number of protesters, some with their faces covered, gathered on the Garvaghy Road.

Restrictions have prevented the Orange Order from following its traditional march route through the mostly Catholic area since 1998 - after previous marches led to violent clashes and major police interventions.

The decision by the Parades Commission to allow the march to proceed after 28 years led to more than 1,000 protesters, some wearing balaclavas or other face coverings, gathering along Garvaghy Road to block the path over the weekend.

Their mass gathering was against the law under Northern Ireland's parading legislation.

Sinn Fein's president Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill, Northern Ireland's first minister, joined protesters on Sunday, prompting calls from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) for the PSNI to investigate them.

The republican party has also called on Sir Chris Bryant to overturn the decision to allow the march.

Speaking to reporters after arriving in Liverpool for the Labour Party Conference, Sir Chris said he had held meetings with the Orange Order, nationalist residents of Garvaghy Road, and political parties - describing the talks as "very positive".

"I'm trying to find a solution that really works for everybody so that everybody can hold their head up high," he said. "And it's tantalisingly just a bit far away at the moment, but we're working on it."

PSNI: Protests 'unlawful' but removal would 'jeopardise' public

Defending its response to the republican demonstrations, which included women, children and older people, the PSNI's assistant chief constable Ryan Henderson said removing protesters to allow the march to go ahead would have "significantly jeopardised" public safety.

Mr Henderson acknowledged police "were unable to allow (the Orange Order) their lawful right" to march "because of an unlawful and unnotified protest", but added: "There was no violence or disorder on the Garvaghy Road at the weekend, this has to be welcomed."

First minister declines to appear at assembly to answer question on protest

While Ms O'Neill called for "calm on all sides" on Sunday, she said she supported the right of residents to protest against the march, which she said should not be taking place.

On Monday, she declined to appear before the Stormont assembly to answer an urgent DUP question on the dispute, with a Sinn Fein politician saying she appeared at the protests as the party's vice president, not as first minister.

Speaking after meeting Sir Chris, she accused political opponents of seeking an "opportunity" to criticise her.

That followed DUP leader Gavin Robinson saying there should be consequences for ministers and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) who "breached the pledge of office" by protesting against the march.

While ruling out a collapse of Stormont by withdrawing the DUP from its power-sharing agreement with Sinn Fein, he said "anyone who has breached the criminal law should be investigated and prosecuted, irrespective of who they are".

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Irish PM: PSNI 'in an impossible situation'

Elsewhere, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said he was "very, very concerned" about the situation, saying there was an "obligation on everybody now to stand back and to mediate an outcome".

He told reporters in Cork that there will not be a future in Northern Ireland if there are "constant attempts to undermine the PSNI" - which he added "have been left in an impossible situation" in policing the Orange Order march.

Mr Martin then said Sinn Fein "need to get off the fence" with the police force.

(c) Sky News 2026: Stalemate over Orange Order parade as Northern Ireland secretary seeks solution