Residents ‘need to be protected’

MD backs Gibbons’ motion on Garvaghy Road

The decision to allow an Orange Order march along Portadown’s Garvaghy Road for the first time in almost 30 years sparked a strong reaction at Monday’s meeting of Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District (MD), where Sinn Féin councillor Paul Gibbons introduced an urgent motion calling on the Irish Government to intervene on behalf of residents opposed to the parade.

Introducing the motion, Cllr Gibbons said: “Seventy-two hours ago, it wouldn’t have entered my head. This motion is fairly self-explanatory, personally I don’t see any reasonable explanation why the march should go ahead, as very ably demonstrated by the resistance of residents, who have lived in peace for 28 years. It’s not a problem that requires a solution. They need to be protected from this march.”

The motion expressed serious alarm and concern at the Parades Commission's decision, and furthermore urged the Taoiseach and Tánaiste to intervene, arguing that the Irish Government, as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, has a duty to the people of Northern Ireland.

His party colleague Colm Carthy seconded Cllr Gibbons’ motion, in solidarity with the residents of the Garvaghy Road. He added that questions needed to be asked regarding the PSNI’s assertion to the Parades Commission that they had no prior information suggesting the parade would cause violence or disorder. He added that serious questions had to be asked of the Parades Commission itself regarding who allowed the long-standing decision not to allow an Orange Order march down the Garvaghy Road to be overturned.

Referring to past marches in Drumcree, he said: “This was one of the most contentious issues. Three young boys were burned in their beds.”

The Sinn Féin representative went on to stress: “No-one is saying that the Orange Order are not entitled to their parades or traditions. But the residents of the Garvaghy Road in Portadown deserve to continue to live in peace and prosperity.”

Describing his reaction to the latest Parades Commission ruling, Fianna Fáil councillor P.J. O’Hanlon said: “Shock is an understatement. No-one thought it would raise its head again. There are children growing up now, who know nothing about the Troubles.”

This was a welcome development and noted his party leader, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, had himself described the situation as “incomprehensible and wrong”, quickly moving to raise the issue with British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham.

“We all live along the border, we all know what it was like. The last thing we need is for it to blow up again. 95% of parades go ahead and not a whisper. I thought that was all over and done with on the Garvaghy Road. Calmness must prevail, progress is made when people continue to talk,” he added.

Noting that politicians of all persuasions have a role to play in facilitating dialogue, Cllr O’Hanlon said one “element” could not be allowed to dictate the agenda. While the last 30 years had not been perfect, he stated that significant progress had been made under the Good Friday Ag reement.

Fine Gael’s Peter Conlon noted that the reaction of nationalist residents in Garvaghy should not have come as a surprise, commenting: “It should have been clear that this wasn’t going to fly.”

He also wondered why the PSNI called in reinforcements from Scotland if they didn’t envisage trouble occuring.

Cllr Conlon noted that the Troubles had inspired Project Children, which is preparing to mark its 51st anniversary, with its first major legacy celebrations at Monaghan County Museum in the coming weeks. The programme had operated in its original form until the Good Friday Agreement.

“No-one wants to return to the Troubles,” the Fine Gael politician said.

MD Cathaoirleach Noel Keelan said 21 people had lost their lives during the Drumcree conflict, and residents of the Garvaghy Road had fought hard to secure peace in their own community.

Alluding to the area’s troubled past, he said: “It has a terrible history. I was there; it was a very dangerous place to be.”

The Sinn Féin councillor also pointed out that some 2,500 marches take place annually across Northern Ireland, with the vast majority passing off without incident.

“I would be the first to defend people’s right to march and parade to the nth degree, but this one is very contentious,” he said.

Defending the Good Friday Agreement and urging continued engagement with the peace process, Cllr Keelan concluded: “This island was transformed and all parties delivered. Peace is a process; we need to continue to engage with it.”

The motion was unanimously agreed.