The September/October political biz

Revival of the Drumcree Parade Dispute 2026

In October, the Orange Order parade that originally ignited significant discontent and uproar in Northern Ireland in the late nineteenth century was revived in the late stages of the ‘Troubles’. The parade was scheduled to commence on Sunday 27th of September 2026. This arrangement encountered intense scrutiny from Garvaghy Road residents and the High Court in Belfast. Shortly before the parade was due to start, the High Court determined that it would still take place despite protests and criticism.  This was agreed upon as a form of respect towards the Parade Commission’s previous verdict.

Despite this, the Orange Order march's original terms were changed. The parade could not start later than 08:00 am, and there was a demand to reduce the number of Orange men allowed to participate. In the early hours of Sunday morning, protesters met together on Garvaghy Road. Not long after, specialist police units arrived to remove the protesters. Following weeks of controversy between Orangemen and the NI Secretary, Sir Chris Bryan decided to ban the march on 9 October. Sir Chris received a warning from the PSNI Chief Constable that if the parade was to follow through, it “would carry an unacceptable risk of serious injury” and “disorder”. 

Residents of the majority nationalist area were unsuccessful in their bid on 12 October to counter the controversial resolution by the Parades Commission, which granted the Orange men permission to march through the Garvaghy Road. A High Court Judge, Mr Justice Scofield, stated that the NI Secretary’s conclusion to put a stop to the parade from going forward was “lawful”.

Jeffrey Donaldson Jailed

On the 15th of October 2026, ex-DUP leader and Lagan Valley MP, Jeffrey Donaldson, received a sentence of 15 years in prison after being found guilty by a jury in June earlier this year of 18 child sexual abuse offences, including one charge of rape. The Newry Crown Court delivered the sentence in June. He was to be sentenced to 11 years for one of the victims, and another 4 years for his offences against the second victim.

Following his sentencing, Jeffrey Donaldson was transported in the back of a prison van from the Court to Maghaberry Prison. He will spend half his sentence behind bars, since his offences were committed before the Criminal Justice Order 2008, which substantially altered the criminal justice framework.

The former politician is now appealing his conviction.