A judge hearing the legal challenge to the Parades Commission’s decision to allow the Orange Order march gave the parties involved a final opportunity to “reach an agreement” and “step back from the abyss”.
Following an adjournment Judge Patricia Smyth requested that the lodge was contacted to find out whether it would be prepared to temporarily halt the parade to allow a full hearing to take place.
In response, the lodge submitted a two-page letter to the court and while the details were not read out, the judge indicated there was “no agreement” to delay the march.
Judge Smyth requested that lawyers for the individual Orangeman contact the rest of the lodge to seek their view.
The judge said the lodge should be informed of the issues the court is dealing with and asked whether they would agree not to proceed “for a matter of days” to allow for an informed judgment to be facilitated.
Adjourning the case for a third time on Saturday, Judge Smyth said “it is my view the issues at stake are so sensitive and so important, I would expect all of the lawyers to be creative and to use the law for the good of all the people in Northern Ireland.”
Judge Patricia Smyth said the issue the court is dealing with is of “fundamental importance” to the entire society in Northern Ireland.