The head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) called for “those with influence to encourage people to comply with the law” amid a large protest blocking the Garvaghy Road.

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said: “I’m unbelievably proud of my officers who, supported by mutual aid colleagues, are managing an exceptionally challenging situation.

“The policing operation thus far has helped ensure there has been no violence or disorder. We have an evidence gathering operation in place to detect any offences and will continue to do this throughout today.

“I appeal to everyone to remain calm and peaceful. I am immensely grateful for all those voices who have already called for calm.

“I would urge those with influence to encourage people to comply with the law and work with the police to keep everyone safe.

“Police are engaging and working with all parties and will continue to do so. It is incumbent on us all to come together at times like this to do all we can to preserve a peaceful Northern Ireland.”

Sir Chris Bryant said he wished “we weren’t in this position”, as an Orange Order parade is set to go ahead for the first time in decades in a predominantly nationalist area of Northern Ireland.

Speaking to the BBC, the Northern Ireland Secretary said: “I can imagine that lots of people didn’t sleep very well last night, not least because of course the court case was going on till very late into the night, till 2.30 in the morning.

“I know lots of people will be watching this very, very closely, including people who have long memories of things that happened 30 years ago, and people will be very nervous and anxious.

“So the number one thing I think is people should co-operate with the police. I want everything to pass off as calmly as is possible. I’m speaking to the police obviously on a regular basis throughout the day, and was last night as well, and so is my team.”

He added: “I wish we weren’t in this position. I wish we weren’t looking at relitigating things of the past. But the court decided that the adjudication, the determination of the Parades Commission stood. So it’s important that everybody abides by the law.”

The First Minister of Northern Ireland should “uphold lawful decisions, not inflame opposition to them”, DUP Leader Gavin Robinson said.

His comments come after Michelle O’Neill, who is also Sinn Féin vice-president, spoke to media on the Garvaghy Road.

Mr Robinson said: “The legal position is now unequivocal. 35 Orangemen can walk in silence along Garvaghy Road. The Court of Appeal found that the injunction had been granted in error, and the High Court subsequently confirmed that the Parades Commission determination must be respected.

“Yet Michelle O’Neill described that outcome as ‘disgraceful’, claimed an Orange procession was being ‘forced’ through the area and declared, ‘There is no going back. Not tomorrow. Not ever’.

“Those words were followed by organised obstruction of the road, while Breandán Mac Cionnaith instructed people to sit down, link arms and return if removed by police. Michelle O’Neill then addressed the gathering, urged it to ‘stay strong’ and repeated the ‘no going back’ chant.

“A First Minister’s duty is to uphold lawful decisions, not inflame opposition to them. The rule of law cannot apply only when Sinn Féin likes the outcome. Our institutions are founded on respect for the police, the courts and the rule of law.

“The Orangemen of Portadown have conducted themselves with dignity and respect for the rule of law for 28 years and once again have demonstrated their maturity today.”

Northern Ireland’s first minister and Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O’Neill has said the reignition of the Drumcree dispute “brings into question how this whole peace process works”.

She questioned the decision making of the Parades Commission and called on the Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant to intervene in the Drumcree parade dispute.

Speaking on the Garvaghy Road she said: “No right-minded person would make this decision. I still do not know the answer to this question – why, after 28 years of a determination to block a march down this road, that the Parades Commission thought that this was the right idea today to bring this mess back onto this community?”

Some in the crowd blocking the Garvaghy Road on Sunday morning could be heard shouting “bring Stormont down”.

Asked on if she thought Stormont could collapse over the Drumcree dispute, the First Minister said: “I think that this brings into question how this whole peace process works.

“The progress of the last 28 years have been brought into question by the actions of the Orange Order and those within political unionism that want to drag us backwards, and I think that brings into question – you heard it here today.

“You heard it about the people’s view of Stormont. You heard it about the terms of politics working for them, and you hear it here time and time again and we’ve certainly heard it over the last 24 hours.

“What’s the point? What’s the point whenever people are going to railroad over their rights? Whenever they’re going to try to roll back in 28 years of progress?”

Prime minister Andy Burnham has appealed for “calm on all sides” over the Orange Order parade, saying there have been “big gains made in Northern Ireland, and we don’t want to see things go backwards”.

Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, he said: “I know it’s a tense situation. We do appeal for calm on all sides.

“There have been big gains made in Northern Ireland, and we don’t want to see things go backwards.

“So, obviously, a challenging situation today, but it’s very important that we work to bring calm.”

He also said there has been a decision taken by the Independent Parades Commission which has been upheld in the courts.

He added: “The job that I have, that the Secretary of Northern Ireland has, is upholding the Good Friday Agreement, and I take that responsibility really seriously. It’s 30 years old next year.

“It’s also the responsibility of the Taoiseach in the Republic of Ireland, and I spoke to him yesterday because we work very closely together on all these matters.”

Speaking from the area on Sunday morning, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald said the people of Garvaghy Road would “not be drawn back to the past”.

She said: “We have spent all night here, all night talking to people, listening to people, seeking to reassure people that actually this can be resolved, and it must be.

“So here is what needs to happen now – the Secretary of State needs to intervene. The chief constable of the PSNI needs to intervene and put a stop to this.

“This is madness. This, in fact, is primitive treatment of any community in the year 2026. It is intolerable, and it will not be tolerated.”

Some in the crowd blocking the Garvaghy Road could be heard shouting “bring Stormont down”.

Asked on if she thought Stormont could collapse over the Drumcree dispute, the First Minister said: “I think that this brings into question how this whole peace process works.

“The progress of the last 28 years have been brought into question by the actions of the Orange Order and those within political unionism that want to drag us backwards, and I think that brings into question – you heard it here today.

“You heard it about the people’s view of Stormont. You heard it about the terms of politics working for them, and you hear it here time and time again and we’ve certainly heard it over the last 24 hours.

“What’s the point? What’s the point whenever people are going to railroad over their rights? Whenever they’re going to try to roll back in 28 years of progress?

“But I can tell you what we’re about. We’re about the future. We’re about building on our peace and progress. We’re about not allowing people to bring us back.”

A controversial Orange Order march has departed Drumcree in Northern Ireland following a late-night legal ruling.

The decision by the Parades Commission authorizing the parade along Garvaghy Road in Portadown was upheld during an “unprecedented” late-night High Court session in Belfast, concluding only a few hours before the march began.

Large groups of protesters, many wearing balaclavas, gathered along the road on Sunday morning—a location renowned as a major Troubles flashpoint in the 1990s.

A substantial display of fireworks was set off nearby roughly five minutes ahead of its scheduled 8am start, while a loudspeaker announcement warned demonstrators that they faced potential arrest for taking part in an unnoticed procession.

Loud cheers broke out after crowd members were informed that the Orange Order had departed Drumcree, followed shortly by chants calling to "Bring Stormont down".