Garvaghy Road residents lose Drumcree appeal bid

Garvaghy Road residents have lost their bid for permission to appeal against a decision allowing the Drumcree parade to pass along their predominantly nationalist road, BBC News reports. According to BBC News, judges at the Court of Appeal said their ruling concerned the legality of the Parades Commission’s decision, not whether the march should take place. [1]

Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant banned the parade on Friday following advice from the PSNI chief constable, BBC News reported. Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan said the judges had reached their decision before Friday’s ban, according to BBC News. [1]

BBC News reported that the residents argued that the commission had weighed the potential for disorder incorrectly. The Lady Chief Justice found that it had properly dealt with a police assessment of that risk and had given adequate reasons for its decision. She ruled that the application for leave to appeal had no reasonable prospect of success.

BBC News reported that the commission had allowed a march planned for 27 September, subject to restrictions, after its earlier decision to stop it was overturned in court. [1]