Northern Ireland police block restricted Orange Order parade after Garvaghy Road protest

Tensions remained elevated in Portadown, Northern Ireland, after police halted a restricted Orange Order parade following a massive counter-protest along Garvaghy Road.

A late-night ruling by the Belfast High Court had upheld a Parades Commission decision permitting 35 marchers from Drumcree Church to walk along the route—the first sanctioned procession through the predominantly nationalist area since the late 1990s. However, thousands of demonstrators gathered on the road to block the procession, causing the court-ordered time window for the march to expire.

Police officers prevented the Orangemen from advancing past the checkpoint to avert potential violent clashes between the opposing groups. Discussions between parade organizers, police officials, and community representatives continued while both marchers and counter-demonstrators remained in the area.

Sources: BBC Northern Ireland, France24, STV News, Sweden Herald, The Guardian