25/08/2026
Parades Commission Discredited.
The recent developments following a High Court action taken by an individual against the Parades Commission have once again highlighted the inconsistency and arrogance of the unelected body.
By their own admission, the Parades Commission’s processes were not followed regarding their most recent determination on the annual Drumcree parade by the members of Portadown District LOL No.1.
Mr Justice McAlinden’s comments that the subsequent ruling against the parade was ‘clearly unlawful’, should not however come as a surprise.
For many years, the Parades Commission has simply issued a ‘copy and paste’ response refusing the Brethren of Portadown’s request to use their traditional return route following their annual church service – a tradition stretching back to 1807. The Commission’s failure to recognise the willingness of Portadown District to enter into dialogue with the residents of the Garvaghy Road, and the latter’s abject refusal to do so, has for too long been used as a convenient ‘get out’ for the Commission.
The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland welcomes today’s legal victory which makes the position of the current Commissioners untenable. We further call on the Secretary of State to instigate a long overdue comprehensive examination of the Commission’s internal decision-making processes, which since its inception, have often lacked credibility, accountability and transparency.
