'I won't step down' says Parades Commission chair after Drumcree parade ruling

The chair of the Parades Commission has said she and her colleagues do not intend to resign.

Professor Evelyn Collins was speaking two days after a court case highlighted mistakes made by the commission in its ruling on last month's planned parade by the Orange Order to Drumcree church in Portadown.

Unionist parties and the Orange Order have called for the commission to stand down, but Prof Collins said they intend to stay in post.

"We will work hard to regain the trust of all sections of the community," she said.

Speaking to Good Morning Ulster , Collins added: "Rather than resign, the commissioners and I are very committed to fulfilling our responsibilities under the legislation, to completing our terms of office and to addressing and fixing the problems that have been identified."

The Orange Order has confirmed it intends to apply for another Drumcree parade in the coming days and a "significant date" in the calendar may be chosen for the parade.

Nigel Dawson, Portadown District Master said the Orange Order was agreeable to mediation with Garvaghy Road residents but questioned whether they wanted to engage in discussions.

A representative of a residents' group said there would be no point in discussions if the Orange Order had a "pre-determined outcome".

The Northern Ireland Secretary of State met the Parades Commission chair on Wednesday.

A Northern Ireland Office (NIO) spokesperson said Sir Chris Bryant expressed "serious concern over the issues highlighted" in the judgement during the meeting.

Sir Chris has asked for written assurances that the commission's decision-making processes are "fair and robust", that they act "independently and impartially" and that they have a plan to "enhance public confidence".

In 1998, the Parades Commission ruled that the Orange Order should not march down Portadown's Garvaghy Road on the end leg of its annual march from Drumcree Church.

It was a move that ultimately led to a decades-long parading dispute, sparking some of the most serious public disorder in Northern Ireland's history.

Stand-offs continued in subsequent years as members of the Order walked to police barricades in protest at the restrictions. Protests were also held by residents living along the Garvaghy Road.