Northern Ireland Appeal Court reserves judgement on Drumcree parade row as Stormont crisis deepens

From the Newshound archive · first published 6 October 2026.

Northern Ireland's Court of Appeal has reserved judgement after nearly four hours of legal argument over whether the Parades Commission acted lawfully in approving an Orange Order march along the Garvaghy Road in Portadown for the first time in almost 30 years. Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan promised a ruling within a "swift timeframe" but gave no date, leaving the nine-day standoff unresolved. Residents' barrister Denise Kiley KC told three judges the commission reached an "irrational conclusion" by failing to properly weigh PSNI warnings about the risk of disorder. The parade has still not taken place after crowds blocked the predominantly nationalist road, with Orangemen remaining at Drumcree Church.

First Minister Michelle O'Neill told the Assembly the law is "morally wrong" and vowed to keep "turning up" for Garvaghy Road residents, despite facing accusations of lawbreaking.

The PSNI is now investigating potential offences including obstruction of a lawful parade and breaching the Parades Commission determination.