The Ancient Order of Hibernians will be hosting what is being described as a "critical issues" webinar this coming Saturday, September 26.
Those critical issues are legacy and the new effort by the Orange Order to march along the Garvaghy Road in Portadown.
Said a release: "New British Northern Secretary Chris Bryant is going 'full steam ahead' with his predecessor Hilary Benn’s Northern Ireland Troubles Bill despite the opposition of thousands of victims’ relatives.
"Meanwhile, the once deadly but long settled dispute about triumphal Orange Order marches through the nationalist Garvaghy Road, has been reopened after decades, with a wide ranging impact.
"Leading victims’ campaigner Mark Thompson of Relatives for Justice, and Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition spokesperson Breandan Mac Cionnaith, will discuss these critical issues along with Peadar Tobin TD, in a live webinar broadcast hosted by the Ancient Order of Hibernians on Saturday, September 26 at 11 a.m. Eastern Time, 4 p.m. Irish time."
The release continued: "After being denied truth about Troubles killings for decades, victim’s relatives began to get justice in legal proceedings like the Ballymurphy Massacre Inquest. Before leaving office in 2024, Conservatives pushed through a new law to shut down inquests, Ombudsman Reports and civil suits that were working for families. They devised an Independent Commission on Reconciliation Information Recovery (ICRIR) to replace legal channels that had begun to work for families.
"Labour pledged to repeal and replace the act before taking office, but new northern Secretary Chris Bryant now intends to rename and retain the ICRIR which has been boycotted by thousands of legacy victims’ relatives because they have no confidence it would ever give them justice The ICRIR has suffered major court setbacks and thus far failed to publish a single report.
"Mark Thompson, the CEO of Relatives for Justice will explain why thousands of victims’ relatives have boycotted the ICRIR, and are fearful that the new Legacy Commission is another British cover-up.
Thirty years ago residents of the Garvaghy Road, Portadown, organized to halt bigoted Orange Parades from pushing through a district that had become overwhelmingly nationalist. From 1996-1999, 21 people were murdered. The area looked like a siege or war-zone as the Royal Ulster Constabulary hemmed in residents to facilitate Orange Order marchers. The victims included Rosemary Nelson, a lawyer who represented the residents.
"In 1998, the newly appointed Parades Commission refused to allow a march and despite annual protests by the Orange Order continued, the issue has seemed settled since 1999. Now due a procedural error, the Parades Commission decision has been reopened and the Orange Order is demanding to march.
"Breandan Mac Cionnaith, the spokesperson for the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition will explain the feelings of residents, as they face a renewed crisis. Peadar Tobin TD, an elected member of the Irish parliament and party leader of AONTU, is an active member of Dail’s Good Friday Implementation Committee and will give a perspective on both issues."
The Webinar broadcast will be available on AOH YouTube: https://aoh.com/OrangeMarch
Zoom Webinar Registration is at https://aoh.com/OrangeMarchZoomRegistration
