It Must be Marching Season

[square_ball]

I would love to know whether the OO in Portadown actually really believed they could get walking down that road?  Setting aside legal wrangling and in theory what they are permitted under law, did they really think in practice it would happen? Did they not understand that there would be people blocking the road and there was not a hope in hell of police physically removing them. If they thought they could actually carry it off they are incredibly stupid. If they didn't really believe it would happen, then it's all just a game to them and showmanship.

Its just a game to Lockhart and Bryson. They are calling the shots and telling them not to blink.

[AustinPowers]

I would love to know whether the OO in Portadown actually really believed they could get walking down that road?  Setting aside legal wrangling and in theory what they are permitted under law, did they really think in practice it would happen? Did they not understand that there would be people blocking the road and there was not a hope in hell of police physically removing them. If they thought they could actually carry it off they are incredibly stupid. If they didn't really believe it would happen, then it's all just a game to them and showmanship.

They  likely assumed the police would hem the people into their homes as before, and/or beat the residents off the road if necessary,  and force it down. Regardless of the consequences 

They have to keep up this billy big bollocks  stance now , as they can't be seen to  cave in to fenians  . Whether they  really believe they'll get down , they have to keep  it up now

[Armagh18]

I would love to know whether the OO in Portadown actually really believed they could get walking down that road?  Setting aside legal wrangling and in theory what they are permitted under law, did they really think in practice it would happen? Did they not understand that there would be people blocking the road and there was not a hope in hell of police physically removing them. If they thought they could actually carry it off they are incredibly stupid. If they didn't really believe it would happen, then it's all just a game to them and showmanship.

I'd say they are genuinely surprised that the cops didn't try to beat the fenians off the road

[DaleCooper]

Why is it not repeatedly brought up that there are in the manner of thousands  of parades a year? I don't get that.

Yep you could probably show application approval rates of 95% or whatever. They can march wherever but everyone including soft unionists know damn well its to pick at the scab.

[Last Man]

I would love to know whether the OO in Portadown actually really believed they could get walking down that road?  Setting aside legal wrangling and in theory what they are permitted under law, did they really think in practice it would happen? Did they not understand that there would be people blocking the road and there was not a hope in hell of police physically removing them. If they thought they could actually carry it off they are incredibly stupid. If they didn't really believe it would happen, then it's all just a game to them and showmanship.

+1. Useful idiots, sadly there's no shortage of them all round, Carla and Seamie included. Strings being pulled from further up the food chain to keep the tribes at each others throats. DUP and SF loving every minute of it playing out to the lowest common denominator. While we gaze at this madness the rest of the real life issues are parked and we just let them off the hook as usual.
Some kip this place!

[JPGJOHNNYG]

The unionist strategy is pure dung. Everything that has happened was so predictable. If the PSNI went in clearing the road by force then it would have been the biggest own goal for unionism ever so no idea what they were trying to achieve

[Armagh18]

The unionist strategy is pure dung. Everything that has happened was so predictable. If the PSNI went in clearing the road by force then it would have been the biggest own goal for unionism ever so no idea what they were trying to achieve

They'd have been able to claim "victowee" and that the law was upheld. But yeah to any reasonable minded person the cops clearing the road by force would have been a horrible outcome for all sides

[DaleCooper]

Its an exercise in extreme cynicism and why I dont pay much attention to NI politics. You can ignore it like a soap opera and pick up where you left it.

Some OO members maybe believed "35 on a sunday morning" would go ahead but the shot callers know its just shit stirring & to help DUP/OO reset from the Loyal Orangeman Wee Jeffreys conviction and sentencing.

[tonto1888]

They reckon they are getting down today

[David McKeown]

A solicitor for Garvaghy Road residents has said the Orange Order must now apply for a new Drumcree parade after thousands of nationalists blocked their route on Sunday.

Darragh Mackin, of Phoenix Law, said the Orange Order will have to submit a fresh application as the clock on the original notification has run down.

"This isn't just us saying this, they said it to the Court of Appeal on Saturday night," he said.

"The determinations are time-specific, and therefore when they lapse you must reapply.


"Whilst they can allow for a margin of appreciation to cater for the unprecedented events, it does not result in the time-limited determination extending it indefinitely.

"For the very same reasons the Orange Order's lawyers argued on Saturday night, the game is now up, a fresh application must be made."

"What's good for the goose is good for the gander."

However, loyalist activist Jamie Bryson said the Orange Order still has a legal right to march the Garvaghy Road.

"And that is the PSNI's position as well," he said.

"I spoke to the PSNI and their position is that they have turned back the parade so as a matter of law the parade formed up at 8am on Saturday morning and essentially as a matter of law has been marching on the spot since at the direction of the PSNI," he said.

"The only way by which that determination can be set aside is if the PSNI refer to the Secretary of State or if the Secretary of State intervenes of its own volition to set it aside," he told the BBC.

There was a heavy police presence in the Portadown area after the Parades Commission gave the controversial parade the go-ahead last week.

As part of its controversial determination, the commission gave permission for 35 Orange Order members to walk silently along the length of the route through the nationalist district.

The parade was ordered to begin at 8am and end by 9.30am on


An application by residents to hold a protest involving 5,000 people had earlier been withdrawn as court proceedings played out.

In total, three different court sittings, including one by the Court of Appeal, were held on Saturday and early Sunday.

By daybreak on Sunday, thousands of people gathered at strategic points along the route through the nationalist district, meaning the Orange march could not proceed.

Protesters dispersed at around midnight after being told that a fresh process to address the dispute was being initiated

A new application needed it would seem. Jamie Bryson v Darragh Mackin....who wins that fight?

From my reading of the legislation and the case law I don't agree with Darragh but he's a very good lawyer and I've been wrong before and no doubt will again.

There is an argument there but my two concerns is why would it be limited to the day and not the prescribed times and two if that was correct all that would have to happen is you delay a parade by sometimes as little as a few hours and then it can't take place without a full reconsideration. That seems unlikely to have been the intent of the legislation.

[paddyjohn]

Don't give them an inch.

[AustinPowers]

They reckon they are getting down today

Who said that? Skeletor or Bwyson?

[Norm-Peterson]

The moderator should give Gallsman and Trileacman a ban for a week or month because of the insults they have been giving eachother. Like watching 2 teenagers argue.
I have been given warnings and bans for less.

[trueblue1234]

A solicitor for Garvaghy Road residents has said the Orange Order must now apply for a new Drumcree parade after thousands of nationalists blocked their route on Sunday.

Darragh Mackin, of Phoenix Law, said the Orange Order will have to submit a fresh application as the clock on the original notification has run down.

"This isn't just us saying this, they said it to the Court of Appeal on Saturday night," he said.

"The determinations are time-specific, and therefore when they lapse you must reapply.


"Whilst they can allow for a margin of appreciation to cater for the unprecedented events, it does not result in the time-limited determination extending it indefinitely.

"For the very same reasons the Orange Order's lawyers argued on Saturday night, the game is now up, a fresh application must be made."

"What's good for the goose is good for the gander."

However, loyalist activist Jamie Bryson said the Orange Order still has a legal right to march the Garvaghy Road.

"And that is the PSNI's position as well," he said.

"I spoke to the PSNI and their position is that they have turned back the parade so as a matter of law the parade formed up at 8am on Saturday morning and essentially as a matter of law has been marching on the spot since at the direction of the PSNI," he said.

"The only way by which that determination can be set aside is if the PSNI refer to the Secretary of State or if the Secretary of State intervenes of its own volition to set it aside," he told the BBC.

There was a heavy police presence in the Portadown area after the Parades Commission gave the controversial parade the go-ahead last week.

As part of its controversial determination, the commission gave permission for 35 Orange Order members to walk silently along the length of the route through the nationalist district.

The parade was ordered to begin at 8am and end by 9.30am on


An application by residents to hold a protest involving 5,000 people had earlier been withdrawn as court proceedings played out.

In total, three different court sittings, including one by the Court of Appeal, were held on Saturday and early Sunday.

By daybreak on Sunday, thousands of people gathered at strategic points along the route through the nationalist district, meaning the Orange march could not proceed.

Protesters dispersed at around midnight after being told that a fresh process to address the dispute was being initiated

A new application needed it would seem. Jamie Bryson v Darragh Mackin....who wins that fight?

From my reading of the legislation and the case law I don't agree with Darragh but he's a very good lawyer and I've been wrong before and no doubt will again.

There is an argument there but my two concerns is why would it be limited to the day and not the prescribed times and two if that was correct all that would have to happen is you delay a parade by sometimes as little as a few hours and then it can't take place without a full reconsideration. That seems unlikely to have been the intent of the legislation.

Is there a function to allow the PC to revisit their decision because of new info? like the fact that there is huge resistance and the PSNI are unlikely to be able to protect the parade and that forcing it down could endanger life?
Can they change their mind?

[tonto1888]

They reckon they are getting down today

Who said that? Skeletor or Bwyson?

LOL.

Wee Seamie