Orange Order challenge to Drumcree ban is widened to include chief constable over 'political' advice

Orangemen on Drumcree Road, whose bid for judicial review of Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant's decision to ban the parade is before Belfast's High Court as unionist parties back no-confidence motions against…

The Orange Order's judicial review of Sir Chris Bryant's decision to ban the Drumcree parade has been expanded to target PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher directly, with loyalists alleging he took political considerations into account when advising the Secretary of State. The widened challenge will be heard as a rolled-up hearing combining two stages, after Mr Justice David Scoffield ordered the consolidation on Monday morning. Bryant has flatly rejected claims he "succumbed to mob rule", while the Court of Appeal separately ruled that Garvaghy Road residents had no reasonable prospect of success in challenging the original Parades Commission decision allowing the parade.

UUP leader Jon Burrows accused Boutcher of crossing 'a line between politics and policing' by citing the survival of the Stormont Executive as a reason to advise against the march.

Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson warned that if the challenge succeeds, Bryant's ban will be quashed and the Portadown District will be 'back marching on the spot on Drumcree Hill'.

Policing the two-week stand-off has cost around £5m, largely due to officer overtime, after thousands of protesters blocked the Garvaghy Road.

BBC News - UKDrumcree dispute: Orangemen and Garvaghy residents both back in court The TelegraphLabour criticised over ‘disgraceful’ ban on Orange Order parade BBC News - UKResidents fail in challenge against Parades Commission's decision Evening StandardResidents lose latest challenge to Parades Commission decision Evening StandardFirst Minister expresses ‘relief’ at Bryant’s decision to stop parade Evening StandardChief Constable’s advice on Drumcree parade to be scrutinised in legal challenge Evening StandardChris Bryant rejects claims he bowed to ‘mob rule’ over Drumcree parade Evening StandardBryant accused of ‘disgraceful appeasement’ by stopping parade Evening StandardChief Constable stands over Drumcree policing and assessment Evening StandardBryant’s decision to halt Drumcree parade to be challenged in court Irish TimesOrange Order legal challenge to Drumcree parade ban to be heard next week Irish IndependentJudges now at the centre of controversial Drumcree parading dispute

Read today's full feed at The Newshound →