ORANGEMEN HAVE submitted an application to march along Garvaghy Road in Portadown after the annual Drumcree church parade on July 4th.
The submission was made to PSNI officers at Drumcree yesterday by Orangemen who have maintained a symbolic presence since they were first denied permission to march in 1998.
They had been expected to apply for permission by nationalist residents weeks ago. The residents and Sinn Féin accused the Orange Order of brinkmanship and an error of judgment by not submitting a formal application to parade and causing local tensions to rise.
The official application form was yesterday submitted having been withheld in protest at what local Orangemen called illegal republican parades.
The Drumcree church parade, traditionally held on the first Sunday in July, commemorates the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Serious violence flared during the 1990s across Northern Ireland as tensions between members of the loyal orders and nationalists rose.
The annual Whiterock parade, itself the focus for street violence in north and west Belfast five years ago, passed off peacefully at the weekend.
Members of one lodge were allowed through a sectarian interface at Workman Avenue and on to the nationalist Springfield Road to join a larger march. A small nationalist protest was held and there was no trouble.
A senior PSNI commander praised those involved for adhering to restrictions imposed on the march and the counter demonstration.
Chief Supt Mark Hamilton said: “I would like to express my appreciation to those responsible for conducting and marshalling the parade in such a responsible way. Equally, I recognise the extensive efforts made by the community in organising a protest that was dignified and well-managed.”
He added: “Both sides showed great leadership in ensuring that this event could pass off . . . I would urge everyone to continue to work together and find local solutions to local issues to ensure that we can continue to enjoy a peaceful summer.”
It was the second big contentious parade to pass off peacefully in Belfast in the marching season.
The annual Tour of the North parade in the city also passed off without incident on June 18th.