UK government blocks Northern Ireland march after standoff fueled sectarian tensions

LONDON — The British government has blocked a contentious march from taking place in Northern Ireland after a two-week standoff between groups that support the region’s continued union with the United Kingdom and those who favor reunification with the Republic of Ireland.

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Bryant intervened Friday night to ban the procession along Garvaghy Road in Portadown, saying it wasn’t possible to find a compromise between the union-supporting Orange Order and residents of the traditionally republican area through which it wanted to march.

“I’ve decided that it’s not in the public interest for it to proceed, and I’ve therefore banned the procession,” Bryant said.

The standoff grew out of the traditional marches held by unionist groups during the summer months to celebrate their Protestant roots and historic ties to the UK. The marches have long caused tensions with the largely Catholic republican community, which says they are intentionally provocative and fuel conflict.

Tensions flared again this year after a court ruling seemingly paved the way for the Orange Order to march down Garvaghy Road for the first time in almost 30 years. Garvaghy Road was a notorious flash point between the republican and unionist communities