Drumcree Church
Credit: Raymond Okoski [CC BY-SA 2.0]

Judicial review proceedings were brought by a member of the Portadown Orange Lodge in relation a determination of the Commission to refuse to permit the return leg of the annual Drumcree parade to walk down the Garvaghy Road.

The Orange Order has applied and been refused permission annually to walk along the Garvaghy Road since 1998.

A member of the Portadown Orange Lodge brought the judicial review proceedings arguing that the Commission’s latest decision unlawfully breached his rights to freedom of belief, expression and peaceful assembly under the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Commission, however, conceded a procedural error and requested that their determination be quashed in advance of a full hearing. Tony McGleenan KC for the Commission stated that the determination had not been considered in its final form by all commissioners.

Mr Gable was criticised for comments made in an email about the annual Drumcee parade: “Mediation is a non-starter, so let’s not give them an angle to keep prodding us”.

Mr Gamble was appointed to the Commission in 2021. He had previously been head of the good relations & reconciliation division in the Office of the First and deputy First Minister.

The Northern Ireland secretary, Sir Chris Bryant, has accepted Mr Gamble’s resignation and thanked him for his service. Sir Chris added that he “is determined to support the Commission as it rebuilds the confidence of the whole community in it vital work”.