PSNI says forcing 1,000 protesters off Garvaghy Road risked serious injuries and disorder
The scene at Drumcree Church in Portadown
Monday 28 September 2026
A senior PSNI officer has said forcibly removing an estimated 1,000 people from the Garvaghy Road in Portadown would have risked serious injuries and made disorder “inevitable”, as police confirmed a dedicated enquiry team is now examining evidence of suspected offences.
The assessment meant officers did not facilitate Portadown District Orange Order’s parade along the route determined by the Parades Commission on Sunday, despite police acknowledging the organisation had a lawful right to parade.
The Commission’s published determination permitted 60 brethren to parade from Drumcree Church along Drumcree Road and Garvaghy Road, subject to conditions.
Police explain decision not to clear road
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said a significant public safety operation remains in place on the Garvaghy Road, with police continuing to engage with those involved.
He said:
“Today, a significant public safety operation remains in place on the Garvaghy Road. Our focus has been, and continues to be, on maintaining order whilst balancing the human rights of all parties.
“We will continue to police this independently and impartially, and will take appropriate and proportionate action in respect of any breaches of the law. There was no violence or disorder on the Garvaghy Road at the weekend, this has to be welcomed. The overall aim was to keep people safe and that has not changed.”
The parade had been due to take place on Sunday, September 27, following a Parades Commission determination imposing conditions relating to music, timing and other aspects of the procession.
Estimated 1,000 people remained on road
ACC Henderson said police had been unable to facilitate the parade because of what he described as an “unlawful and unnotified protest”.
“The Parades Commission determined that Portadown District were permitted to parade on their notified route. We were unable to allow them their lawful right because of an unlawful and unnotified protest.
“Since 8am on Sunday 27th September we have kept under consideration the police response required to ensure that the notified parade could pass along the determined route. Repeated attempts to get people to move off the road were unsuccessful.”
The Parades Commission website records a separate Garvaghy Road Residents protest notification for September 27, with an expected 5,000 participants and times listed from 7am to 11am and again from 1pm to 4pm. Police have described the later obstruction which prevented the parade proceeding as unlawful and unnotified.
ACC Henderson said officers considered what level of force would have been necessary to clear the route before deciding that intervention would have created an unacceptable risk to public safety.
“Our assessment was that to remove, at one stage, an estimated 1,000 people from the Garvaghy Road, including women, children and older people would have required such a significant use of force that public safety would have been significantly jeopardised, people seriously hurt and disorder inevitable. In all of those circumstances use of police force would have been disproportionate.”
Dedicated police enquiry now under way
Police gathered evidence throughout Sunday and repeatedly warned those remaining on the road, according to ACC Henderson.
He confirmed that a dedicated enquiry team has now been established to review the material collected and investigate anyone suspected of breaking the law.
“During the course of the day, an evidence-gathering operation was in place and warnings were issued on multiple occasions. We have established a dedicated enquiry team who are currently reviewing that evidence and anyone who has broken the law will be investigated. As always these matters will be reported to the Public Prosecution Service, who will independently determine if there is sufficient evidence and if it is in the public interest to prosecute.
“We continue to keep our policing operation under review and engage with all stakeholders.”
The policing operation therefore remains active, while the immediate focus moves from managing Sunday’s stand-off to examining evidence gathered on the Garvaghy Road and determining whether individual offences can be identified and referred for potential prosecution.
The key question now remains whether — and, if so, when — Portadown District will be able to complete its parade along the Garvaghy Road.
