Northern Ireland secretary blocks Orange Order parade in Portadown

Britain's Northern Ireland Secretary, Chris Bryant, has banned an Orange Order parade in Portadown. He made the announcement on Friday night after a 13-day standoff between marchers and local residents.

The Parades Commission had originally allowed the march to go ahead with some restrictions. However, the parade did not take place on 27 September because protesters blocked the route.

The chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland warned Bryant that letting the march proceed would risk serious violence across Northern Ireland. Bryant said it was not in the public interest to allow it.