Parades Commission
Decision on 8 July 2000 Orange March

DETERMINATION IN RELATION TO THE PORTADOWN
DISTRICT LOL NO 1 PARADE IN PORTADOWN ON SATURDAY 8 JULY 2000

The following is the decision of the Parades Commission in relation
to the Portadown District LOL No 1 parade in Portadown on
Saturday 8 July 2000. 

Section 8(1) of the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998,
provides that: 

“The Commission may issue a determination in respect of a
proposed public procession imposing on the persons organising or
taking part in it such conditions as the Commission considers
necessary.” 

We have noted the details provided on Form 11/1 submitted on 10
June 2000 about the parade proposed by the Portadown District
LOL No 1 on Saturday 8 July 2000. 

We have considered the need to issue a determination as outlined
above, against the factors described in our Guidelines document. 

Decision 

The Commission has noted that the stated purpose of this parade
is “To attend rally at Drumcree”. The parade is therefore intended as
part of the expression of protest at, and challenge to, the
Commission’s decision last year on the Portadown District LOL No
1 Drumcree Church Parade. The Commission regrets the
resumption of protest parades following a six month period when
these did not take place. Parades such as this can only increase
tension in Portadown at this time. 

The notified parade is a large one, comprising 10 bands and 1,000
participants. The parade proposes to start at 7.30pm in Montague
Street, dispersing at the same location at 11pm. While it will not
impact greatly on commercial life in Portadown, there will
nevertheless be traffic restrictions and undoubted 
disruption to the life of the community along Charles Street and
Corcrain Road, where it will pass several sensitive interfaces. The
Commission is extremely concerned at the effect of nightly parades
passing through a residential area where tensions are already high,
and particularly with a return parade at such a late hour. 

As the parade as notified would pass St Johns Church on the
outward route as worshippers leave Mass, we have imposed a
minor change to the starting time. 

The Commission does not intend to impose route restrictions on
this parade, but has decided to place conditions on the organiser
and on all those taking part in the parade. It is the responsibility of
the organiser to ensure that the parade proceeds peacefully and
lawfully. 

DETERMINATION 

The Commission’s determination is that the following
conditions are imposed on all persons organising or taking
part in the parade notified by Portadown District LOL No 1 to
take place on 8 July 2000. 

1. The parade shall leave the notified assembly point at
8.30pm. 

2. The organiser shall confirm in writing to the police the
names of all bands taking part 24 hours prior to the parade.
This shall be a maximum of 10 bands and no bands other
than those notified to the police may take part in the parade. 

3. The parade organiser shall ensure that when the parade is
in progress there shall be no undue stoppages or delays. 

4. The parade organiser shall bring to the attention of the
person in charge of each band, and of all stewards, the
conditions laid down in Appendix A, particularly Section A,
and Appendix B of the Code of Conduct. For ease of
reference the relevant sections are replicated below. 

5. The parade organiser shall arrange for the presence of an
adequate number of stewards to ensure that all parade
participants act in an orderly manner. 

6. The parade organiser shall ensure that all stewards and
participants quickly obey any lawful direction given by the
police. 

7. The parade organiser shall ensure that these conditions
are drawn to the attention of all participants including bands.


APPENDIX A 
General Behaviour for anyone participating in parades 
A. Behaviour 
All participants in parades must: 
? Behave with due regard for the rights, traditions and
feelings of others in the vicinity. 
? Avoid words or behaviour which could reasonably be
perceived as provocative, threatening, abusive, insulting or
lewd. 
? Obey the lawful directions of parade organisers and
stewards at all times, from assembly to dispersal, 
? Abide by the conditions of this Code of Conduct, 
? Comply with police directions and in accordance with
legislation. 



APPENDIX B 
Behaviour in the vicinity of sensitive locations 
A Places of Worship 
– Hymn tunes only to be played 
– When church services are taking place, no music shall be
played 
– No irreverent behaviour 
– Marching should be dignified 

B. War Memorials and Cemetaries 
– Hymn tunes only should be played 
– Behaviour should be respectful 
– Marching should be dignified 

C. Where the majority population of the vicinity are of a
different tradition, and in interface areas 
? Behaviour should be respectful. 
? There should be no excessively loud drumming 
? Participants should refrain from conduct, words, music or
behaviour which could reasonably be perceived as
intentionally sectarian, provocative, threatening, abusive,
insulting or lewd. 
? Marching should be dignified. 

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