The State of Us

First Minister Michelle O’Neill has been reported to the police by the Orange Order for attending a protest blocking the Garvaghy Road. What is the law on ‘spontaneous’ protests?

What are the rules around marching and policing. How do they play out in reality, do they apply to everyone and who enforces them? Tara Mills and Declan Harvey shed more light on the standoff at Drumcree.

How the courts gave the Drumcree march the go ahead. After the Parades Commission’s decision to allow the march, Garvaghy Rd residents and the Portadown Orange Order took their dispute to court.
An overnight 15-hour legal battle ensued.

A special series from The State of Us podcast. The two women Jeffrey Donaldson abused as children came to court today, as his prison sentence was discussed. He will be sentenced in October. Eleanor Donaldson has been asked to attend court at a later date to hear the outcome of the verdict in her trial of the facts.

The Parades Commission has given the Garvaghy Road march the go ahead after 28 years. We explore the arguments that tipped the scale.