A JUDGE is set to review the commission which adjudicates on contentious Orange parades in Northern Ireland.
The Secretary of State of Northern Ireland, Chris Bryant, made the announcement following a critical High Court judgment on the Drumcree parade, which takes place in Portadown each July.
The court had quashed a decision from the Parades Commission to prevent the Drumcree march from going along the town's Garvaghy Road, which was reportedly made to avoid stoking tensions in the mainly Irish nationalist area.
High Court judge Mr Justice McAlinden referred to “errors”, “short cuts”, and “sloppy procedures” in the approach of the commission to making its determination.
The Parades Commission had blocked the Order from marching along the road in every year since 1998.
Some Unionist politicians have called for the resignation of the commissioners, including chair Professor Evelyn Collins, following the ruling.
One commissioner, Billy Gamble, who had attracted criticism, resigned from his post on Thursday.
Bryant said he had received assurances from the commission on Friday that it had a plan to address the concerns raised.
He met with the body on Tuesday, after which he announced the judge-led review of its decision-making processes.
Bryant paid tribute to the commission as doing a “vital job in what can be sensitive and difficult circumstances”.
But he said it “needs to enjoy the fullest possible confidence of all communities”.
“That is particularly important in the wake of the court’s ruling,” he said in a statement.
“I have considered the commission’s response to that ruling and, while I am satisfied that the issues raised are being taken seriously and progress is being made, I have decided that an independent review is needed to provide assurance on and consider improvements to the commission’s processes and procedures.”
Bryant said: “This will strengthen the commission’s immediate and future work. In the meantime, the current commissioners have my full backing. It is in the public interest that they continue their critical functions as we work together to restore public trust in this vital institution.”
The Northern Ireland Secretary has also asked officials to launch a public appointments process as soon as possible to appoint commissioners, and urged all to “continue supporting the important work of the commission and to conduct parades and protests in a lawful manner”.
“I would urge everyone to support the independent judge-led review and to give the commission time and space to rebuild confidence and regain its footing,” he said.
“There is no justification for anyone stepping outside the law, including in relation to the lawful notification of parades.”
