Standoff at Drumcree
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Why is the Drumcree parade standoff expected to reach the Cabinet?
Next, though, as you heard on the news, the Cabinet is this morning expected to discuss the continuing standoff at Drum Cree over the Orange Order Parade. The impasse in County Armagh is now into its fourth day, despite efforts by Northern Secretary Chris Bryant to mediate a solution. At the height of the blockade yesterday, thousands of people gathered on the Garvahi Road to prevent the parade from passing along the route. RT reporter Una Kelly is on the Garvahi Road. He rode this morning. Una good morning, Jib.
Good morning, David.
What are things like there now?
What is happening on Garvaghy Road as the Drumcree protest continues?
Well, there's a smaller number of residents and their supporters, I'd say around twenty or so, uh, on the road this morning. Some of them stayed overnight. Now they are on the footpath and the grassy bank just above the road, so the road is completely clear and traffic is passing freely as it was yesterday as well. And they still have the gazebos and the tents with hot drinks and chairs set up there, so it seems that people have no intention of moving on at any time soon. Now it is a relatively relaxed and peaceful atmosphere here this morning. The primary school that's on the road here, which closed yesterday due to safety concerns, is back open, so school drop-off was happening as normal this morning.
Meanwhile, a small number of Orange Order members and their supporters, I'd say about seven or eight of them, are maintaining a presence outside Drumcree Church this morning. And there's also a peaceful atmosphere. Up there.
Why does the Orange Order say it should be allowed to march at Drumcree?
I was speaking to them there about half an hour ago, and a member of the group told me that they had once again walked down the road around midnight last night to speak to the PSNI about when they may be allowed to march. But they were told by the PSNI that the position remains unchanged. Now the Orange Order member said that their own position is that the Parades Commission decision, which was announced on Friday, remains a live determination. And that they should be allowed to complete this particular march. There is also a reduced police presence on Drunkree Road this morning of a Land Rover and a couple of squawk cars. And David, I was here on Garvahi Road last night too, and I'd say between 6 to 9 pm, it looked like the size of the crowd trebled.
Some of them were local residents, while some were supporters who travelled from Belfast, some from Derry.
How are Garvaghy Road residents organizing their protest?
and from other parts of the north, and just after ten o'clock last night, the Garvahi Road Residents Coalition Representative, Brendan McConnell, addressed the crowd.
There'll be no need, I hope, for to stay out here all night. Those of you who want to can remain. But I'd recommend most of you go home, get a good night's sleep. You see your mobile devices, make sure they're fully charged up. Your cameras the whole lot. Because nobody else is gonna see what's gonna happen. Makes here that we have a record of it all. Most aviants can head off. At twelve o'clock. Our lag. Couple of hundred to remain behind. So if anything happens, during the neck. They can alert everybody else. I know But it's f faxed messages or whatever. They can seen for a crowd on that road if it's needed. Okay, yeah.
Brendan McCunett there. And uh Una he also gave supporters an update on that meeting with the Northern Secretary, Chris Bryant.
Yes, he said that they had been invited to a meeting today and that the proposal had been that representatives of the Garvahi Road residents, the British government and the Orange Order would all sit in a room together. But Brendan McConnell told the crowd that's not how mediation works.
What mediation proposal could resolve the Drumcree parade dispute?
He said that they would not accept anything other than an international mediator from outside Britain or Ireland with no connection at all to the conflict. And here's more of what he told the crowd at ten o'clock last night.
This whole ride of Van Gawahi Road. It's nothing to do about politics. It's everything to do with human rights and civil rights. But as the Tourist government want to p politicize it Then I can't be for other safe. This evening, when I keep back into town, I spent over an hour with two representatives from the Dublin government and I made our reservations very clear and asked them to bring that back to Dublin and to send their concerns to the British government about this process.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
Why is the Drumcree parade standoff expected to reach the Cabinet?
0:00–0:31
2
What is happening on Garvaghy Road as the Drumcree protest continues?
0:31–1:21
3
Why does the Orange Order say it should be allowed to march at Drumcree?
1:21–2:11
4
How are Garvaghy Road residents organizing their protest?
2:11–3:29
5
What mediation proposal could resolve the Drumcree parade dispute?
3:29–4:27
6
Why do residents frame the Garvaghy Road dispute as a human rights issue?
4:27–5:59
7
Why are residents and supporters opposing another Orange march on Garvaghy Road?
5:59–8:10