The Garvaghy Road residents have failed in a bid to challenge the Parades Commission’s decision to allow the Drumcree parade to walk down the predominantly nationalist road, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Judges said their decision was confined to the lawfulness of the decision – it was not deciding whether or not the march should occur.
Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan said the ruling was decided before the secretary of state banned the parade on Friday.
Residents had argued the commission’s decision was flawed over how it weighed up the potential for disorder.
However, the court dismissed the appeal to challenge the determination.
In September, the Parades Commission announced that a planned Orange Order parade would be allowed in Portadown.
The commission said the parade should start earlier than the Orange Order wanted and with fewer people, but could go ahead for the first time in 28 years.
On Monday, the Lady Chief Justice found the Commission properly dealt with a police assessment on the potential risk of disorder and gave adequate reasons for its decision.
“This application for leave to appeal has no reasonable prospect of success,” she held.