Garvaghy Road march court case
The gist
A Belfast court cleared 35 Orangemen to march the Garvaghy Road after almost 30 years.
The ruling tests whether a decades-old sectarian standoff can pass off peacefully.
How it unfolded
- Sep 25, 2026The Parades Commission delivered its ruling on the Orange Order's application for the Drumcree parade, allowing the return parade along the Garvaghy Road after almost 30 years, with restrictions including an 8am start time and a limit of 35 participants.
- Sep 26, 2026A legal challenge to the Parades Commission's decision took place at the High Court in Belfast, with a large crowd including political representatives gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice.
- Sep 26, 2026High Court judge Justice Patricia Smyth passed a temporary injunction against the Parades Commission decision allowing the Orange Order to march down the Garvaghy Road, urging parties to "step back from the abyss" and "reach agreement for the sake of everyone in Northern Ireland".