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Talks on Drumcree parading dispute end without agreement
Late-night negotiations at Hillsborough Castle failed as residents’ legal bid over the Orange Order route was delayed to Monday, with policing costs at £3 million.
Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant announced on Thursday night that peace talks between the Orange Order and Garvaghy Road residents ended without a settled agreement, though his door remains open for future dialogue.
Seeking to complete its traditional route for the first time in 28 years, the Portadown District of the Orange Order relies on a Parades Commission ruling granting them a legal right to march down the Garvaghy Road.
Police chief Jon Boutcher warned "mob rule" must not win, while Bryant described the situation as being between a "rock and a hard place," stressing the need to keep citizens safe.
Monday's Court of Appeal hearing is the next critical step, where residents will challenge the parade decision, prompting legal adviser Jamie Bryson to urge both sides to accept the final legal determination.
Policing costs for the stand-off have topped £3 million, as officials fear that forcing a march through the area could be "catastrophic" for Northern Ireland, underscoring the precarious balance between maintaining order and respecting legal rights.