UK PM urges 'calm on all sides' as thousands try to block flashpoint Northern Ireland parade

Portadown, Northern Ireland on September 27 saw thousands gather as an Orange Order march sought to bypass a predominantly Catholic and nationalist area for the first time in 28 years. The tensions escalated after a court cleared the route earlier today. Prime Minister Andy Burnham appealed for "calm on all sides," emphasizing progress since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which ended the Troubles.

Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill condemned the ruling, stating "there is no going back." The Orange Order, a pro-British organization, aims to march silently along Garvaghy Road, free of bands or supporters, at 8am. About 2,000 counter-protesters walked the route, with police intervening. The Good Friday Agreement brought significant transformation, but the parade's route reignited past tensions.