A stand-off between Orange Order members and residents in Portadown has been described as “now bigger than the Garvaghy Road”.
asserted
off → describe → Road
Those assembled at Drumcree Community Centre included Breandan Mac Cionnaith from the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition, Sean Murray from the Springfield Road Residents Action Group as well as representatives from the Bogside Residents Association, Lower Ormeau Concerned Community and Short Strand Residents Association.
asserted
Those → assemble → Association
They previously issued a joint statement expressing concern at the impact of the current Drumcree stand-off on accommodations in other areas.
asserted
They → issue → areas
They said such accommodations “could unravel if the Orange Order continue to insist on parading down the Garvaghy Road”.
uncertain
Order → say → Road
Their comments come after Northern Ireland’s Parades Commission dramatically allowed the parade along its traditional route on the Garvaghy Road for the first time for almost 30 years.
However, it has been unable to proceed because of police concerns about disorder.
asserted
it → come → disorder
Members of the Portadown District of the Orange Order remain at Drumcree Church, demanding to be allowed to begin their parade.
asserted
Members → remain → parade
Protesters have maintained a presence on the Garvaghy Road, insisting that what they see as a “triumphalist” parade should not be allowed, citing the violent history of the march in the 1990s.
asserted
see → maintain → 1990s
Speaking on Wednesday afternoon, Ms O’Neill said the Orange Order and the Parades Commission have made the issue “bigger than the Garvaghy Road”.
asserted
issue → speak → Road
“This community has been left devastated by the decision of the Parades Commission,” she said.
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she → leave → Commission
“This community needs the Parades Commission to explain clearly how they can disallow nearly 1,500 parades over 28 years, and then in a short period of time decide it was OK to let a parade down (the Garvaghy Road).
asserted
it → need → time
“At the minute the support from all over Ireland, particularly all of the other communities in the north of Ireland coming here and supporting us, are propping up our community right now; we have never seen support and solidarity like it.
asserted
we → come → it
“The Orange Order needs to take responsibility, and so do the Parades Commission for making this issue bigger than the Garvaghy Road, this is no longer just about the Garvaghy Road, this is about all of us.”
asserted
this → need → us
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Earlier the Irish premier faced further calls to help bring an end to the “dangerous and lingering limbo” of the Drumcree dispute, as Sinn Féin’s leader called for direct intervention on the issue.
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leader → read → issue
Mary Lou McDonald told Taoiseach Micheál Martin that he has a responsibility to “apply all necessary pressure” on the UK Prime Minister and Northern Ireland Secretary.
asserted
he → tell → Minister
“He should have acted on day one and he should act now,” the Dublin TD added.
asserted
TD → act → day
She repeated her calls for Sir Chris to use his powers to prevent the parade from taking place.
asserted
Chris → repeat → place
Ms McDonald further accused Sir Chris of leaving people in “limbo” after he “walked away” when the proposal put forward in last week’s talks to resolve the dispute was rejected.
asserted
proposal → accuse → dispute
“It is the residents who live with the consequences.
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who → live → consequences
“I am focusing my remarks on the British Secretary of State for the simple reason that he is the person who can intervene now, to call an end to this march and to allow the space for the very considerable repair work that will have to be done on Garvaghy Road, across Portadown and further afield.
asserted
that → focus → Portadown
“We are facing into a very, very dangerous limbo and stalemate and I think there is a responsibility on you to apply all necessary pressure and Prime Minister (Andy) Burnham and the Secretary of State to intervene now and to put a stop to what is a dangerous and now lingering limbo situation.”
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what → face → stop
Mr Martin said he spoke to Mr Burnham about the matter two days ago.
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he → say → matter
“I still believe that we need a mediated resolution of this and that’s the wider lens through which I am looking at this,” Mr Martin added.
asserted
Martin → believe → this
“I don’t understand why you are just having a go at the Northern Ireland Secretary of State in the way you have.
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you → understand → way
I think if we wish to persuade people, we have got to try to work to persuade them.
asserted
we → think → them
“The talks that have happened could result in an outcome if we maintain dialogue and we will see what happens.”
uncertain
what → happen → dialogue
Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday, Mr Martin accused Ms McDonald of engaging in actions that would not contribute “to a satisfactory resolution” of the issues.
asserted
that → speak → issues
“I’m looking round the corner, I’m looking ahead and I’m not so sure you are.
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you → look → corner
I think you are looking to the here and now for your own electoral reasons.
asserted
you → think → reasons
I hate to say that but that’s the conclusion I have come to,” he added.
asserted
he → hate → that
The Irish foreign affairs minister said the only solution to the Drumcree parade dispute is where the Orange Order and the residents of the Garvaghy Road come to an agreement.
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Order → say → agreement
Helen McEntee said history has shown that the only way to find a resolution in Northern Ireland is where “both sides can potentially move forward”.
asserted
sides → say → Ireland
The Fine Gael minister said that “irrespective” of the Court of Appeal judgment, both sides should come to an agreement.
asserted
sides → say → agreement
Speaking in Dublin, Ms McEntee said she speaks to the Secretary of State on a daily basis.
asserted
she → speak → basis
“The Irish government has a role in trying to bring people together and in trying to ensure that if there is a solution and an agreement between both the residents and indeed the Orange Order, that we are there to support that,” she added.
asserted
she → have → that
“But the discussions themselves, led by the Secretary of State, have to take place.
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discussions → lead → place
Where I see my role and this Government’s role is making sure that we can support whatever agreement is put in place.
asserted
agreement → see → place
She said the Irish Government is engaging with political parties in Northern Ireland to ensure it does not impact on the Executive.
asserted
it → say → Executive
Ms McEntee said there is a lot of focus on the Court of Appeal case.
asserted
McEntee → say → case
Judgment has been reserved in the legal challenge against the decision which legally permits the Orange Order to march along the Garvaghy Road in Portadown.
asserted
which → reserve → Portadown
The case has been taken by the residents of the predominantly nationalist Garvaghy Road.
asserted
case → take → Road
…and 3 more, not listed.
The Aporia
