The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has appointed a senior judge to lead an independent review of the Parades Commission following a High Court ruling that quashed the commission's decision on the Drumcree parade.

Sir John O'Hara KC will examine the commission's decision-making processes and governance. Secretary of State Chris Bryant said the review was needed to restore and maintain confidence in how the commission reaches decisions.

The review will audit the commission's internal governance, decision-making procedures, and engagement with parade organisers, residents, police, and mediation efforts. It will not examine the legal framework for parades or whether permission should have been granted for any particular parade.

The review comes as the commission is expected to rule on Friday on an application by the Orange Order's Portadown District to complete its traditional route along the Garvaghy Road on Sunday. The parade has been blocked from that route every year since 1998.

The Orange Order has proposed a reduced procession of 60 members walking in silence along the road, without bands or music. Portadown District Master Nigel Dawson said the order had made itself available for mediation without preconditions and had offered to meet with residents at a venue of their choice.

Unionist parties have urged the commission to approve the parade, arguing that the law favours the right to peaceful assembly. DUP leader Gavin Robinson said the application deserved a fresh and lawful assessment and that the commission should give clear reasons for its decision. TUV leader Jim Allister said there was no legal basis to restrict the parade and suggested a refusal could be challenged in court.

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald said the dispute had been settled 28 years ago and should not be reopened. She said the community wished there to be no Orange Order march through the area. Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition spokesperson Breandán Mac Cionnaith described the current mediation process as flawed.

The Parades Commission has met separately with the Orange Order, political parties, and residents' groups this week. The commission has also been offered a mediation process by TIDES Mediation NI, which the Orange Order has accepted to begin engagement.

A decision on the parade is expected to be announced on Friday. The parade is scheduled for 1pm on Sunday, starting at Drumcree church and finishing at Carleton Street in Portadown town centre.