Tense standoff over flashpoint N.Ireland parade lasts into night

Portadown witnessed a tense standoff on Sunday as UK leaders urged for calm amidst a prolonged standoff over a pro-British Protestant parade. The tensions escalated after an appeal court overturned an injunction, allowing the Orange Order to march through a Catholic flashpoint area for the first time since 1997. The Parades Commission had previously authorized the 35 Orangemen to proceed silently along Garvaghy Road at 8am, but their attempt to do so was met with resistance from police and around 200 residents.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham called for calm on all sides, emphasizing that significant progress had been made in Northern Ireland and that they did not wish to see it regress. The region has a history of conflict between Catholic, pro-Irish republicans and Protestant, pro-UK unionists, which intensified in the late 1990s around Garvaghy Road. A robust security presence was present in the area, including armoured police vehicles and a helicopter.

Northern Ireland's First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, who leads the Irish republican Sinn Fein party, denounced the late-night court ruling, asserting support for the residents' right to protest against the march. Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald told reporters that the community had come together to defend their right to live free from sectarian harassment.

While the Good Friday peace accords of 1998 brought significant progress and transformation to Northern Ireland, O'Neill argued that they were not prepared to revert to past tensions.

On the other hand, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson called for unanimous condemnation of O'Neill, accusing her of breaking the law by disregarding the court's decision. The party maintained its support for the Orangemen, highlighting their determination and patience. At around 6pm, a contingent of Orangemen left the church and attempted to proceed down the hill, only to be blocked by police who refused to allow them past.

Northern Ireland's Labour Party minister Chris Bryant arrived to mediate and met with political and community leaders in an effort to ease the situation. The Court of Appeal upheld the late-night ruling, deeming it "seismic" and emphasizing that residents had nothing to fear from the parade.