Garvaghy Road

Summary

That this House welcomes the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland's ruling to overturn the decision by the Parades Commission to permit an Orange Order march down the Garvaghy Road; recalls that in 1998, the Orange Order, an exclusively Protestant group, applied to parade down the Garvaghy Road which was predominantly home to nationalist families; understands that the application was refused and, during the subsequent widespread protests, three young Catholic boys were burnt to death in an arson attack on their home; is aware that the current ambiguity surrounding this march threatened to reopen a painful chapter in Northern Ireland’s history, jeopardising nearly three decades of peace, stability, and reconciliation achieved under the Good Friday Agreement; notes that the proposed parade has been criticised by significant sections of the Protestant community; further notes that allowing this march to proceed, in any form of guise, risks undoing the hard-won progress and reopening old wounds which does not reflect the content of either the Good Friday agreement or Stormont House Agreement; and urges the Government to ensure this legacy is upheld permanently.

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Timeline

1. 12 October 2026

   Early Day Motion

   That this House welcomes the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland's ruling to overturn the decision by the Parades Commission to permit an Orange Order march down the Garvaghy Road; recalls that in 1998, the Orange Order, an exclusively Protestant group, applied to parade down the Garvaghy Road which was predominantly home to nationalist families; understands that the application was refused and, during the subsequent widespread protests, three young Catholic boys were burnt to death in an arson attack on their home; is aware that the current ambiguity surrounding this march threatened to reopen a painful chapter in Northern Ireland’s history, jeopardising nearly three decades of peace, stability, and reconciliation achieved under the Good Friday Agreement; notes that the proposed parade has been criticised by significant sections of the Protestant community; further notes that allowing this march to proceed, in any form of guise, risks undoing the hard-won progress and reopening old wounds which does not reflect the content of either the Good Friday agreement or Stormont House Agreement; and urges the Government to ensure this legacy is upheld permanently.

   Source: Early Day Motion

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Sponsors

• John McDonnell · Labour · Primary sponsor

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