Leitrim councillor calls on Taoiseach to protect rights of Garvaghy residents
At a meeting of Manorhamilton MD, Cllr Pádraig Fallon welcomed the resolution to ban the march and called for An Taoiseach to protect the rights and wellbeing of residents.
A call was made to write to An Taoiseach Micheál Martin following the controversy surrounding attempts by the Orange Order to march along the Garvaghy Road in Portadown.
Following a nearly two-week stand-off, Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Bryant banned the march along the Garvaghy Road on October 10.
Cllr Pádraig Fallon welcomed the resolution during a meeting of Manorhamilton Municipal District.
He had initially submitted a motion before the resolution was reached, proposing that the MD “fully supports the right of residents in Garvaghy Road to live without fear of Orange Order marches parading along their road,” and urging An Taoiseach to contact the Orange Order, the Chief Constable of the PSNI and the British Secretary of State to demand that the march be rerouted.
Following the resolution, Cllr Fallon amended his motion at the meeting, instead asking the MD to write to An Taoiseach to remind him of his rights and obligations to Irish citizens on the Garvaghy Road and to ask him to protect their rights and wellbeing.
Cllr Fallon noted that he has family connections to the area and had visited on several occasions during the most recent controversy.
The motion received support from other councillors at the meeting.