The Ancient Order of Hibernians National President Seán Pender has welcomed the decision by the British Secretary of State for the North of Ireland, Chris Bryant, to prohibit the proposed Orange Order march along the Garvaghy Road.
Speaking from the Garvaghy Road, where he met with the Garvaghy Road Residents Group, Mr. Pender said: “This week I have been in Ireland (see report on Page 4) meeting with Executive ministers, business leaders and community groups speaking about the Good Friday Agreement and progress in a New Ireland, however all of those events and conversations were framed by the context of the proposed march at Drumcree in County Armagh and the experience of the community living on the Garvaghy Road.
“I was honored to sit in the Garvaghy Road and listen to those residents, where it became clear that there were two themes. The first was context. Understanding the context in which these residents live is essential for us to understand why protecting the rights, and lived lives of these residents, and all citizens in the North of Ireland is so important.
"The Portadown Orange hold 51 marches in the area throughout the year, without opposition or contest. This proposed march was clearly provocative, and in the words of Linda O’Neill from the Residents Association, a 'clear over-reach.' It is instructive that the minister at Drumcree Church stated he does not want the Orange Lodge to march this route and does not want them there at a vigil, has closed the doors of the church to them, and has made clear that he does not see them as participating with the congregation.
Read the article in The Irish Echo