Catholic-Protestant conflict reignites as Orange Order marches are allowed in Northern Ireland

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Shin-young = In Northern Ireland, an old conflict between Protestant unionists and Catholic nationalists was sparked again over a religious event in which the Protestant group ORANGE ORDER marched through the center of a predominantly Catholic village.

According to the American daily New York Times (NYT) and AFP, the Belfast Court of Appeal on the 27th (local time) allowed the Orange Order procession to march along Portadown Gabergy Road for the first time in over 30 years since 1997.

This is under the condition that only 35 people march quietly from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. without bands or supporters.

Since its founding in 1795, the Orange Order has held street parades to commemorate the defeat of James II, a Catholic, by William III, a Protestant known as the 'Duke of Orange' in the 17th century.

They left Portadown and attended services at a church in Drumcree, but the return journey became a problem every year.

They insisted on returning along Gabergi Road, where Catholics mainly reside, but the residents there were against it.

Eventually, as a serious conflict broke out in the 1990s, the Gaberg Road was only used as a detour route, and the conflict was repeated when the court allowed passage on this day.

Hundreds of Catholics protested against the court decision and blocked the Orange Order march despite heavy rain. Even politicians joined in, leading to a standoff that continued late into the night.

Northern Ireland's President Michelle O'Neill criticized the court's decision, saying, "No one in their right mind would have made this decision," adding, "It is an act that has caused chaos in the community."

On the other hand, Gavin Robinson, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which forms the coalition government, objected, saying that O'Neill broke the law by blocking the Orange Order's march.

As the standoff between the two sides continued late into the night, the British government's Northern Ireland Secretary, Chris Bryant, urged both sides to exercise restraint, saying, "I hope what happened in the past doesn't happen again."

The Irish government also issued a statement saying it was "very concerned about the current situation."

Ireland became independent from Britain after the 1919-1921 war, but Northern Ireland, which is religiously and ethnically close to Britain, continued to remain within the United Kingdom.

Since then, there has been constant conflict in Northern Ireland between the Catholic nationalist camp, which argues that the country should be unified with Ireland after independence from Britain, and the Protestant unionist camp, which insists that the country remain within the UK.

AFP news agency pointed out that this is the worst crisis to occur in Northern Ireland in recent years.