Eleventh-hour U-turn on mini-Twelfth by Portadown Orange Order

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

‘Rather than abusing space and stoking up community tensions, the DUP should use their influence to talk common sense and promote positive economic investment’

THE ORANGE ORDER has made a dramatic U-turn and cancelled its ‘mini-Twelfth’ event planned for Portadown People’s Park on 8 June. There had been objections from nationalist residents fearing its impact on community relations.

In retaliation to the objections, the Democratic Unionist Party group on Craigavon Borough Council tabled a motion calling on the council to withdraw from the SPACE project and the European Union funded £7million refurbishment of Portadown People’s Park.

Craigavon Borough Council had given approval to the Orange Order event by 13 votes to 12.

The Orange Order said it was testing the concept of the park being a shared space.

Objectors were considering legal action to stop it going ahead, citing public comments made by Portadown Orange District Master Darryl Hewitt as well as community relations.

In response, the DUP tabled its motion that would have cost Portadown Public Park funding for badly-needed refurbishment and upgrading as a family-friendly facility.

Sinn Féin Councillor Gemma McKenna described the reaction of the DUP as “complete political and economic lunacy”. She said:

“Rather than abusing space and stoking up community tensions, the DUP should use their influence to talk common sense and promote positive economic investment. They should not reject a hugely valuable financial injection to the Borough of £7million.”

Portadown Sinn Féin Councillor Paul Duffy welcomed the Orange Order’s decision to withdraw their application to use Portadown People’s Park and urged everyone to support the EU funding bid.