Garvaghy Road parade will not be policed 'at any cost' - PSNI chief

Northern Ireland's top police officer has said the force's "principle objective" is to police the decision to allow a parade down the Garvaghy Road in Portadown, but added this would not be done "at any cost".

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said his overriding responsibility was to keep people safe.

He has also offered to meet both sides in the stalemate, the Orange Order and the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition.

There has been more than three days of stalemate over the Orange Order parade, which was due to happen on Sunday morning but has not due to protesters on the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road.

Protesters remain along the road but the Orangemen who had been at Drumcree church since Sunday morning left overnight into Wednesday.

The Orange Order has said it was disappointed and frustrated by a "lack of a proper policing plan" to allow the march to go ahead.

Separate talks are continuing between Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant and the respective sides in an effort to break the stand-off.

The residents have also launched a fresh legal bid to stop the parade from going ahead, which is due to be heard on Friday.

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