Irish opposition parties write to Burnham urging action on Drumcree parade dispute
Nine Irish politicians from several opposition parties and groups have written to UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham. They want him to have the Northern Ireland Secretary revoke a Parades Commission decision allowing an Orange Order parade along the Garvaghy Road, 12 days into the impasse.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Irish opposition parties have written to UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, asking him to intervene in the Drumcree parading dispute. Evening StandardN “A host of Irish political parties have united to press UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to intervene in the Drumcree parading dispute.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Irish IndependentRC “Irish opposition parties write to Andy Burnham urging him to intervene over Drumcree parade dispute” Read at Irish Independent ↗ Centre · 1The letter asks Burnham to instruct Northern Ireland Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant to "use his statutory powers to bring this crisis to an end" under the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998. Evening StandardN ““We believe that the British Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant MP must discharge his statutory powers under the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998.”” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1The signatories are Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald, Labour leader Ivana Bacik, Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins, People Before Profit TDs Richard Boyd-Barrett and Paul Murphy, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín, Charles Ward of the 100% Redress Party, and independent TDs Brian Stanley and Seamus Healy. Evening StandardN “The letter to Mr Burnham was signed by Sinn Féin president Mary-Lou McDonald, Labour leader Ivana Bacik, Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins, People Before Profit TDs Richard Boyd-Barrett and Paul Murphy, and Aontu leader Peadar Tóibín.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Centre · 1The letter comes on the 12th day of an impasse that began when the Parades Commission allowed the Orange Order in Portadown, Co Armagh, to complete its traditional route from Drumcree Church down the Garvaghy Road, for the first time in almost 30 years. Evening StandardN “The letter comes on the 12th day of the impasse sparked after Northern Ireland’s Parades Commission gave the Orange Order in Portadown, Co Armagh, the green light for the first time in almost 30 years to complete its traditional route from Drumcree Church down the Garvaghy Road.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1The Police Service of Northern Ireland said it has been unable to facilitate the parade because of large-scale protests on the Garvaghy Road. Orange Order members have kept a presence at Drumcree Hill, while protesters remain on the road. Evening StandardN “The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said they have been unable to facilitate the parade amid large scale protests on the Garvaghy Road.”“Since then Orange Order members have maintained a presence at Drumcree Hill, while protesters remain on the Garvaghy Road.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1The signatories say the Commission's decision caused "profound distress and anxiety within the Garvaghy Road community". They call for the determination to be revoked and say no march should be "forced through the Garvaghy Road community against its wishes". Evening StandardN “They described the Parades Commission decision permitting the parade as having “caused profound distress and anxiety within the Garvaghy Road community”.”“The determination should be revoked and the proposed march should not be permitted to proceed along the Garvaghy Road against the expressed wishes of the local community.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Centre · 1The letter recalls the 1990s Drumcree stand-off as "synonymous with murder, violence and intimidation where 21 people were killed", and warns "We can’t allow these dark days to return". Evening StandardN “The letter recalls the Drumcree stand-off in the 1990s as being “synonymous with murder, violence and intimidation where 21 people were killed during that horrific time”.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1It also notes that Burnham's party played a central role in securing the Good Friday Agreement, whose 30th anniversary is approaching, and says the British Government has "the responsibility and the power to prevent further escalation". Evening StandardN ““Your government’s party played a central role in securing the Good Friday Agreement. As we approach its 30th anniversary, it would be hugely detrimental if the progress achieved since 1998 were allowed to be undermined by a return to the past.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- The Evening Standard reports the letter in detail, quoting its demands and the signatories and setting out the background of the 12-day impasse.
- Emphasis
- The letter's call for the Secretary of State to use statutory powers, its references to the 1990s violence and the Good Friday Agreement, and the list of signatories.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No response from Burnham, Bryant, the Orange Order or the Parades Commission is given.
- For example
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“A host of Irish political parties have united to press UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to intervene in the Drumcree parading dispute.” — Evening Standard
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- The Irish Independent's headline presents the letter as coming from Irish opposition parties urging Burnham to intervene.
- Emphasis
- The parties' status as opposition and their appeal to Burnham.
- For example
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“Irish opposition parties write to Andy Burnham urging him to intervene over Drumcree parade dispute” — Irish Independent
What every side reports
- Irish opposition parties have written to Andy Burnham urging him to intervene in the Drumcree parade dispute.
Mary Lou McDonald person
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald is a signatory to the letter, which says no march should be forced through the Garvaghy Road against the community's wishes and asks the UK government to act.
““There must be no march forced through the Garvaghy Road community against its wishes,” they added.” — Evening Standard
Andy Burnham person
Burnham is the recipient of the letter. It says his government has the power and responsibility to prevent escalation. No response from him is reported.
““The British Government has the responsibility and the power to prevent further escalation. We ask you to exercise that responsibility now.”” — Evening Standard
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Irish political parties urge Burnham to intervene over Drumcree parade dispute
Neutral Detailed, mostly quote-driven report of the letter with background on the impasse.
Right1 article
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Irish opposition parties write to Andy Burnham urging him to intervene over Drumcree parade dispute
Neutral Headline frames the letter as opposition parties urging Burnham to intervene.
- 8 Oct 18:48 First Evening StandardN Irish political parties urge Burnham to intervene over Drumcree parade dispute
- 8 Oct 19:20 +32m Irish IndependentRC Irish opposition parties write to Andy Burnham urging him to intervene over Drumcree parade dispute
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.