Luke Butterly.

More than 93% of unionist parades went ahead without any restrictions over the past decade, it can be revealed.

Of the 22,679 notified unionist parades that took place between April 2016 and March 2026, only 1,454 (6.4%) had any conditions imposed on them by the Parades Commission.

Unionist parades accounted for 63% of the 35,692 parades that took place in the past ten years.

Republican parades made up 909 (2.5%) of the total, and 12,104 (34%) were classed as ‘other’, which covers everything from Pride parades to vintage car rallies.

The Parades Commission has come under intense scrutiny after the High Court quashed its decision to restrict this year’s Drumcree parade, ruling that it had acted unlawfully due to serious procedural failures.

Mr Justice McAlinden referred to “errors”, “shortcuts”, and “sloppy procedures” in the process.

Orangemen have been prevented from marching on the nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown each year since 1998.

PARADES

An analysis by The Detail of Parades Commission annual accounts indicates that only a small number of unionist parades are impacted each year.

There were 2,507 notified unionist parades in the last financial year up to March 2026, with only 137 having any restrictions imposed on them.

51 of these relate to weekly parades in Portadown to protest the Drumcree decision.

The 137 parades were classed as ‘sensitive’, meaning that the Parades Commission deemed them to have the potential to raise concerns and community tensions.

For example, in placing restrictions on one parade in north Belfast last year, the Commission noted that it was “considered offensive by [the local nationalist] community, due to the perceived associations of the parades with paramilitary groups who were responsible for many killings in the Ardoyne area”.

The commission cannot ban parades outright, but can place conditions including on the route taken, the size of the parade, or the type of music played.

For example, marching bands may be ordered to play only a single drumbeat instead of full music or songs when passing sensitive areas, such as Catholic churches.

Of the 137 unionist marches that had conditions imposed on them, only a portion of those had their routes restricted .

Other than the 51 weekly Portadown parades, there were 38 parades which had restrictions on their route.

In practice this means that around 1.5% of all unionist parades had restrictions imposed on their routes last year.

These 38 parades with route restrictions were largely concentrated in a few areas of Northern Ireland, with some involving the same band or route.

This included 11 in north or south Belfast, four in Lurgan, and four in Dunloy, Co Antrim.

Even if the Portadown parade is allowed to go down the disputed Garvaghy Road in the future, it will still likely be with conditions imposed.

A prominent Portadown Orangeman recently suggested that a march with no music might be acceptable.

Overall, there were 26 times as many unionist parades (2,507) than republican marches (96) in 2025/26.

This reflects the importance that the parading tradition holds within the unionist community and the more peripheral role it plays within nationalism.

Of the 96 republican parades, only three had conditions imposed on them.

There were also more than twice as many unionist parades than all ‘other’ parades combined (1,210).

The ‘other’ category covers all charity, civic, rural and sporting events, ranging from Pride parades, trade union rallies, and charity tractor runs.

Only one ‘other’ event, a demonstration in Ballymena, had conditions imposed on it last year

Unionist politicians have called for the resignation of the commissioners following the High Court ruling, stating that the Commission does not have the confidence of the unionist community.

Following the High Court decision, Phillip Brett DUP MLA said the Commission had been “exposed” and was "an organisation which is anti-Orange and anti-unionist".

The Ulster Bands Forum, which represents over 600 bands, said there were “long-held concerns within the band community about the attitude of this statutory body towards our culture and traditions."

Dr Dominic Bryan, an expert on parades at Queen’s University Belfast, said unionist opposition to the Parades Commission has been constant since it was established in 1998.

“It's a bit of a myth for them to say that they now lack confidence, when they've actually been saying that they have no confidence in the Parades Commission since day one.”

He said confidence in the Commission “has taken a blow” following the High Court ruling, but that attitudes in the wider unionist community “would be quite mixed”.

“There would be quite a lot of people who would probably think that the Parades Commission is the right way decisions should be made.”

The most recent Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey question on parades was asked in 2022.

A majority of all respondents (74%), and a plurality of Protestants, agreed or strongly agreed that “Parades should only be allowed if the organisers and local residents agree to the arrangements.”

This was an increase on the 70% who supported that view in 2015.

Dr Bryan, whose work influenced the setting up of the Parades Commission, said there were legitimate questions about how decisions were made, such as the lack of an appeal process and wider issues of transparency.

“So, for example, the police say there's a security issue, and that the parade is a problem. How transparent is that? The evidence you get from the police, has that changed over the years? Those are all utterly reasonable questions when making a decision,” he said.

“What I think is more difficult to work out is what alternative do they want?”

Given the low number of parades that currently have any conditions imposed on them, he said it was possible any new system could mean greater restrictions, not less.

There have already been a number of reviews and inquiries into the Parades Commission over the years, which did not lead to a change of the current system, he added.

“So it's not as if we haven't been down this road quite a few times before, if you'll forgive the pun.”

Protests against unionists or republican parades are also now rare, when compared with even a decade ago.

In the last financial year, there were 17 notified parade-related protests, almost all of which were protests by evangelical churches against Pride parades.

The most recent protest against a unionist or republican parade was in September 2024, when the Crumlin and Ardoyne Residents Association (CARA) protested against an Orange parade in north Belfast.

Before that, in 2018, there was a protest against a republican anti-internment parade.

That compares with regular protests a decade ago.

A decade ago, in 2016/2017, there were 17 notified parade-related protests. Of these 14 related to nationalist or unionist parades, while the remainder were against Belfast pride.

That year saw a much higher than usual number of restricted parades, due to nightly parades by the Ligoniel Combine in north Belfast.

This changed following the agreement between Ligoniel Lodges and the Crumlin and Ardoyne Residents Association in September 2016.

The other anomalies over the past decade were in 2020/21 and 2021/22, where many parades were cancelled due to Covid.

https://thedetail.tv/articles/more-than-93-unionist-parades-ahead-without-restriction-commission-drumcree-portadown/

I have completed a year at QUB, didn’t really enjoy it but passed everything and think I could get the degree done if I tried hard. As silly as it sounds, graduating with a degree from Queens would also be quite cool.

I have been accepted into a degree apprenticeship with a bank, in partnership with Ulster University, and I’m very indecisive with what to do.

I have been lucky enough to save a good portion of money in my part time job and had saw a mortgage advisor who said if I take the apprenticeship I could afford a house in my chosen local area.

I would graduate from queens in 2029, and from Ulster in 2030 if I take the apprenticeship. No debt with the apprenticeship and I will still have an honours degree.

What would you do?

Since the 2022 Assembly election, the DUP has had a fairly remarkable run of controversies involving elected representatives:

Jeffrey Donaldson - convicted in 2026 of 18 historical sexual offences, including rape and indecent assault. Awaiting sentencing and appealing the conviction.

Jim Shannon MP - charged with common assault of a woman. Case ongoing, no conviction.

Gordon Lyons MLA - found to have breached the Ministerial Code after publishing the location of families displaced during racist disorder.

Clement Cuthbertson - suspended for three months after false claims linking a children’s GAA event and a former GAA official to the IRA.

Linda Clarke - suspended for three months over conflicts of interest involving planning applications represented by her husband, DUP MLA Trevor Clarke.

Colin Kennedy - suspended for three months after comments linking support for LGBTQ rights with support for Hamas.

Luke Poots - disqualified from serving as a councillor for four years over repeated planning-related conflicts of interest.

Sammy Wilson - settled a libel case brought by Michelle O’Neill after accepting that claims he made about her were wrong.

John Smyth - found to have breached the councillors’ code over a planning conflict of interest.

John Carson - suspended after telling Michelle O’Neill she should be “put back in her kennel”, a remark described by the adjudicator as having a misogynistic tone.

Marc Collins - suspended for eight months over abusive and unfounded social-media allegations concerning John Finucane and the IRA.

Paul Givan, Gordon Lyons, Michelle McIlveen, Edwin Poots and Gary Middleton - subsequently found to have breached the Ministerial Code over the DUP boycott of North-South Ministerial Council meetings.

And now there are serious questions about what senior DUP figures knew about concerns surrounding Jeffrey Donaldson before his arrest, following statements from Ian Paisley and Edwin Poots.
Obviously, these aren’t all equivalent. Some are criminal cases, some are official standards breaches and some are political controversies.
But taken together, it’s quite a list for one party in one Assembly term.

I’m not one of the usual wingers on here but I took this photo to come on here to berate these two for talking throughout the support bands at the Speed gig in the Oh Yeah Center in Belfast tonight.

Well fuck that because I’ve just had one of the best gigs in my life and I’ve been to a lot! Must be close to 40 bands this year but this could be in my top 3 of all time!

I missed Speed in Belfast last year as I caught a dose of the old Covid. Some mates went and as much as they enjoyed it and I was gutted to miss it their account of the gig was wild! One got a broken finger and apparently two ambulances were called due to Pit related injuries.

I was a bit nervous going into tonight’s gig. The 3 support bands did a great job, the Oh Yeah Center beer selection is top notch and I could tell the crowd were up for a good night.

I’m 46 and as much as I love a bit of two stepping I’m too old for that crowd killing shit so stayed toward the back beside the sound booth.

Lads and ladies there could have been a bit to complain about, I’m a mere 5ft10 so there were lots of taller folks in front of me as I was pussying out of the pit so there were bits I couldn’t see the stage but my face is still sore from smiling from start to finish! How the hell can a band be so goddamn aggressive yet give such positive vibes?! My neck will be in pieces tomorrow but that’s ok! Long live the Gand Called Speed and the awesome Norn Iron gig goers!

Hi everyone,

I'm reaching out to see if anyone has advice or experience dealing with PSNI processing times for official police reports.

Quick background: On 4th August, I was visiting Belfast on my motorcycle (Swiss plate) when a group of youths attempted to steal it on Falls Road. Thankfully, the amazing residents living in the area stepped in and foiled the theft!

By the time I arrived at the scene, a tow truck called from the police was already loading the bike onto their truck. I managed to intercept them on site (but not the police), and after sorting things out, I was able to retrieve the bike the next day and take the morning ferry back home.

The current issue: The incident was logged, and I have a Victim Information Card with a valid Crime Reference Number, station, and investigating officer details. I even managed to speak with someone on the PSNI line who verified my identity and confirmed the report definitely exists in their system (with a small typo on the plate).

However, my insurance company requires the official written police report to cover the full damage costs. When following the instructions provided by PSNI to request the report, I received an automated response stating that requests via OCMT/Data Protection take up to 24 weeks and follow-ups will be deleted.

24 weeks is nearly half a year, and my insurance claim is completely blocked in the meantime.

My questions for you:

1. Has anyone managed to get a basic summary/incident report released faster for insurance purposes?
2. Does authorizing a local resident to ask at the station help, or is everything strictly stuck in the central Data Protection / SAR queue?
3. Are insurance companies in the UK/EU usually willing to proceed with just the Crime Reference Number and the 24-week PSNI delay notice?

Huge thanks to the people of Falls Road who saved my bike in the first place, and thanks in advance to anyone here who might have some insights!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y75w45l50o

Thirty-six businesses in Northern Ireland, including a care provider, hotels and solicitors, have been named for failing to pay their employees the minimum wage, according to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).

Across the UK, more than 600 employers were ordered to pay affected workers the outstanding wages, with £4m returned to workers.

The firms across the UK have also been issued penalties worth £7m.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the government was determined to stamp out the practice of "short-changing your staff".

"The best businesses know that looking after your workers isn't just the right thing to do, it's the smart thing to do," he said.

In April 2026, the hourly rate for over-21s rose by 50p to £12.71, with workers aged 18-20 seeing an 85p rise to £10.85.

Sixteen and 17-year-olds and apprentices saw their minimum wage increase by 6%. NI employers named by department

Peninsula Care Services (NI) Ltd, Newtownards, BT23, failed to pay £42,013.29 to 125 workers

Patterson & Rocks Solicitors Limited, Newry, BT34, failed to pay £16,622.92 to three workers

C.F.C. Interiors Ltd, trading as CFC Interiors, Cookstown, BT80, failed to pay £9,157.36 to 23 workers

Ms Rosemary Gawn, trading as Rosemary Gawn Solicitors, Ballymena, BT43, failed to pay £8,944.60 to one worker

Bushmills Hotels Limited, trading as The Bushmills Inn Hotel, Bushmills, BT57, failed to pay £6,914.54 to 100 workers

William Moutray & Sons Ltd, trading as Costcutter Moutray's, Craigavon, BT66, failed to pay £6,334.89 to 116 workers

A&M Retail Limited, trading as McAtamney's Traditional Butchers, Garvagh, BT51, failed to pay £4,400.09 to eight workers

TCMC Crowded Space Ltd, Belfast, BT4, failed to pay £3,906.64 to 139 workers

Belfast Cleaning Co-Operative Limited, trading as Belfast Cleaning Society Ltd, Belfast, BT13, failed to pay £3,663.88 to 13 workers

Blacks Road Service Station Ltd, Belfast, BT10, failed to pay £3,368.87 to four workers

Ranfern Limited, trading as Centra Holywood, Holywood, BT18, failed to pay £3,282.09 to 138 workers

Portstewart Golf Club, Portstewart, BT55, failed to pay £3,029.66 to 11 workers

Hamilton's Foodhalls Ltd, trading as Spar Dergvalley Castlederg, Castlederg, BT81, failed to pay £2,994.41 to 98 workers

Glen Community Parent/Youth Group, Belfast, BT11, failed to pay £2,958.94 to one worker

JSS Bar Grill and Cookery School Limited, Belfast, BT2, failed to pay £2,424.52 to 71 workers

300. JJB Hotels Limited, trading as Balmoral Hotel, Belfast, BT10, failed to pay £2,356.42 to 66 workers

Mr Gurmet Singh, trading as TLC, Belfast, BT15, failed to pay £2,150.92 to 31 workers

Mr Francis Mulligan, trading as GM Kitchens & Shop Fitting, Ennskillen, BT92, failed to pay £2,058.50 to six workers

Davison Canners Limited, Craigavon, BT62, failed to pay £1,821.93 to 22 workers

McCombe Inns Limited, trading as The Thatch Inn, Ballymena, BT42, failed to pay £1,796.81 to 24 workers

Ò Muirigh Solicitors Limited, Belfast, BT12, failed to pay £1,776.56 to one worker

Peter Rabbit Day Nursery Limited, trading as Peters Patch Day Nursery, Hillsborough, BT26, failed to pay £1,713.54 to 44 workers

Ebrington (NI) Ltd, Maydown, BT47, failed to pay £1,391.96 to one worker

Pho Vietnamese Limited, trading as Madame Pho, Belfast, BT7, failed to pay £1,374.42 to 17 workers

Milestone (Rathfriland) Limited, Newry, BT34, failed to pay £1,369.47 to 53 workers

Dundonald Nurseries Limited, Belfast, BT16, failed to pay £1,347.27 to 41 workers

Mr Ngoc Tinh Chu, trading as Riverside Chinese Restaurant, Omagh, BT79, failed to pay £1,078.23 to 16 workers

Gillis Foods Limited, trading as Crosskeys Meats, Ballymena, BT42, failed to pay £942.86 to 11 workers

Imperial Hotel Garvagh Ltd, Coleraine, BT51, failed to pay £908.14 to 21 workers

LCMA Hotels Ltd, trading as Bishop's Gate Hotel Derry, Derry, BT48, failed to pay £896.31 to 13 workers

Whiterock Childrens Centre Ltd, trading as Whiterock Creche Association Ltd, Belfast, BT12, failed to pay £886.94 to nine workers

Miss Lynsey Bingham, trading as Identity Hair, Belfast, BT9, failed to pay £849.24 to one worker

WFS (NI) Limited, trading as SPAR Mount Eagles, Belfast, BT17, failed to pay £783.42 to one worker

4C Coffee House and Kitchen Ltd, Armagh, BT61, failed to pay £734.51 to one worker

Mr John Bailey & Sharon Bailey, trading as J&S Bailey, Belfast, BT14, failed to pay £609.55 to nine workers

S & D Property Maintenance Ltd, Belfast, BT17, failed to pay £529.51 to two workers

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gl4789d1vo

A number of Israeli triathletes set to compete in Londonderry have been withdrawn from the race after organisers raised concerns about their participation.

The sport's governing body, World Triathlon, confirmed on Thursday it had been asked by the Israeli National Federation to "remove all the Israeli athletes entered" from Saturday's Europe Triathlon Cup.

The North West Triathlon Club (NWTC), who are organising the race, earlier said they could not support the Israeli athletes taking part.

The club added that it had concerns about "athlete and public safety" had the Israeli athletes competed on Saturday.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) told BBC News NI it had "become aware of potential protest activity in relation to the event".

Four Israeli triathletes had been listed on a provisional entry list for the men's elite race in Derry.

World Triathlon said it had removed the Israeli competitors with "immediate effect" following the request from the Israeli federation.

Earlier the NWTC said it had raised a number of concerns with both Triathlon Ireland and Europe Triathlon after it said it had become aware of the Israeli athletes participation.

It said it had "made clear in the strongest possible terms that it could not support their (the Israel athletes) participation in the circumstances."

That position, NWTC said, is based on its club values, the values of its members and "on the very real concerns being raised around athlete and public safety, the potential for serious disruption and the wider risk to an event involving hundreds of competitors from Ireland and across the world."

"This is not a position directed at anyone because of their religion or ethnicity, nor is it hostility towards an individual simply because they were born in Israel," NWTC said. A series of buildings line the perimeter of a civic square at Ebrington in Derry Image caption,

Ebrington will act as the race village during the September event

The race organisers added: "It is a position concerning representation of the State of Israel in international sport and the attempt to present normality on the international sporting stage while Palestinians continue to suffer."

"NWTC believed it had a responsibility to speak clearly and urgently when the safety of athletes, spectators, volunteers and the wider public - and potentially the ability of the event itself to proceed - could be placed at risk."

NWTC said international registration for the event has been handled by World Triathlon and as such it had "no involvement whatsoever in accepting or approving these international entries." Race preparations 'continuing'

In a statement, Triathlon Ireland confirmed the start list for Saturday's race "does not include any athletes representing Israel."

"The selection and confirmation of athletes for Europe Triathlon Cup competition is managed by Europe Triathlon, under World Triathlon rules. It is not possible to comment on the circumstances or decisions relating to individual athletes," it said.

Triathlon Ireland added: "Preparations for Saturday's event are continuing as planned."

In a statement on social media, the Derry Anti War Coalition said it is "delighted that the triathletes from Israel will no longer be participating in the City of Derry Triathlon."

Staging an elite triathlon in the city is widely regarded as a coup for race organisers with many of the world's best triathletes set to take part.

Earlier this year, Ireland's most successful triathlete Aileen Reid said the Derry event – taking place three weeks before the World Triathlon Championship Finals in the Spanish city of Pontevedra - is well timed to attract a high-end field of competitors.

Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) said the event was not organised by it, but that Triathlon Ireland had secured funding through the National Event Fund to deliver it.

A spokesperson said: "We were made aware on Wednesday evening of concerns regarding a small number of entrants taking part, and are aware of the subsequent statement from the North West Triathlon Club issued today.

"We would like to take this opportunity to highlight Council's ongoing support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement which is promoted on our platforms regularly in line with the wider global campaign of solidarity with the Palestinian people."

Sukie tasted so much better from these cartons than they do now in them plastic bottles.

I made some maps for the upcoming football season for both the Premier and Championship

Up the Amber Army!

Hi,

Belfast Grand Central to Dundalk Clarke at 7pm this evening

Left a note with the same deets on the ticket collection machine. I'm getting an earlier train today so someone may as well use this:

Collection code: Y5MLBT

Seat D40

Every day I will add the top voted item to this list. After 10 days we will have r/northernireland's definitive 5,8 and 10 piece Ulster fry to settle all future arguments.

After receiving zero votes on day 1, sausage topped the poll on day 2

Item 1- Potato Bread

Item 2- Sausage

Item 3-

A Northern Irish girl with few mates trying to survive in a country where the mental health care is absolutely shocking. Tbf this is not just an NI problem. My personal story and hopefully someone reads and relates at least a little bit, if anyone is interested in this kind of thing ❤️‍🩹

Do any of socialise on your own?

I'm not talking about having a coffee on your own or suchlike. Moreso going to gigs, concerts, shows, theatre, comedy, etc.

I can manage the cinema in my own, but those that go further what is the experience like?

If you (grey Peugeot 2008) drive at 58mph in the 3rd lane of the M2 from Shore Road to Sandyknowes just to cut up other vehicles as you veer off into lane 1, I wish you nothing but mechanical faults.

Just got this lovely letter through the door from SSE Airtricity informing me that my gas unit rate is going up 18.97% from 1 October. Nearly nineteen fucking percent. Is anyone with Firmus or another supplier had a letter yet? Is there actually any point switching, or are they all about to bend us over the same radiator? Shower of Bastards.

What was that for?

Translink

I’m sooooo confuseddddd. So I was going to intl airport to go to Glasgow and paid for bus at grand central for the bus to into airport, it was £9 looked at machine said success and ticket was given to me by driver. I go upstairs and few mins later look at my phone ‘Ulster bank £9 declined’. I have enough funds so idk why that happened. Bus driver didn’t shout back for me or anything so clearly it’s went through on his end? But I checked my Ulster bank and it’s not pending nor is it even anywhere to be seen.. then on way back from Glasgow same thing got the into bus back to grand central checked phone, £9 declined… yet it’s going through on the drivers side? Then few days ago went to town, got bus from my home, paid, got ticket, few mins later ‘£1.20 declined’ tried to go home from Chichester street and tried to tap on then it outright stopped me and wouldn’t go through.. this has been happening for the past approx 2 weeks? Only time it properly declined was Chichester street.. and it looks as if no money is actually leaving my account despite it saying the payment is a success

So I’m just wondering has this happened to anyone/ actively happening to anyone rn? What do I do? I’m scared I’m gonna owe so much money or something idk.

Just thought I’d leave this here also.

Made me chuckle......