Parades Commissioner resigns following critical Drumcree High Court ruling

By Jonathan McCambridge and Claudia Savage, Press Association

One of Northern Ireland’s Parades Commissioners has resigned following criticism of the body after the High Court quashed its determination over the Drumcree parade in Portadown.

Billy Gamble’s resignation came just hours after UK prime minister Andy Burnham said “confidence will be restored” in the commission.

A court hearing earlier this week heard that the commission’s decision to place restrictions on this year’s Orange Order July march at Drumcree had not been considered in its “final form” by all members of the commission.

High Court judge Judge McAlinden referred to “errors”, “short cuts”, and “sloppy procedures” in the approach of the commission to making its determination.

The Parades Commission, which adjudicates on contentious marches, has blocked the order from marching along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown in July every year since 1998.

Some unionist politicians have called for the resignation of the commissioners following the High Court ruling.

Gamble had faced criticism over private comments, which were referenced in the High Court, that he made about the Drumcree parade determination.

In an email he had described mediation over the parading dispute as a “non-starter”.

Announcing his resignation, a Northern Ireland Office spokesperson said: “The Secretary of State has today accepted the resignation of Parades Commissioner Billy Gamble.

“He has written to Mr Gamble to thank him for his service.

“The Secretary of State is determined to support the commission as it rebuilds the confidence of the whole community in its vital work.”

Asked earlier if the Parades Commission is fit for purpose, Mr Burnham told reporters in Belfast: “The Northern Ireland Secretary (Sir Chris Bryant) has met the chair of the Parades Commission in the last 24/48 hours, and obviously has been addressing some of the issues, the confidence issues that there are and that was the right thing to do obviously, the matters raised will have a resolution, and confidence will be restored.”

He added: “I understand what you say when you say the stakes are high, but that requires a calm and a measured approach, and that is what the Government is taking, understanding the concerns of all communities.

“But those issues have to be dealt with, hence the meeting that took place.

“So obviously, that was the right thing to do, but it’s what comes next is what matters.”

Asked if there should be resignations from the commission, Mr Burnham replied: “I think it’s not for me to say.”

The stand-off at Drumcree made headlines in the 1990s with nationalist residents of the Garvaghy Road resolutely opposed to the parade passing through the area, leading to violent clashes for several summers and political tensions necessitating a major security operation.

The Orange Order has unsuccessfully applied for more than a quarter of a century to complete its 1998 walk along its traditional route.

We accept the criticisms that have been made, and we take the issues that were raised by the court very seriously

The chairwoman of the commission, Professor Evelyn Collins, said she would not be resigning and insisted that the commission did not make decisions by WhatsApp.

She told the BBC Good Morning Ulster programme: “We accept the criticisms that have been made, and we take the issues that were raised by the court very seriously.

“And obviously, we’ve heard calls for resignation. 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.

“We’ve already addressed the main concern.

“The court identified that not all commissioners signed off the final text of the draft, so that practice has changed.

“We have also initiated a review of all processes to ensure they’re lawful, appropriate and follow best practice.”