When regulation of parades was being coaxed into existence three decades ago, it was considered fortunate that marching is fundamental to Orangeism.
That allowed parades to be distinguished from protests or demonstrations in general.
Clever Orangemen knew they should argue against regulation in terms of the rights to free expression and freedom of association, from which the right to protest is inferred.
But clever Orangemen were in short supply. The loyal orders ended up arguing their case in terms of a non-existent right to ‘walk the Queen’s highway’, earning justified ridicule.
Brian Feeney: What is it with unionists and northern Cyprus?
Newton Emerson: We are world leaders in regulating protests – so why limit it to parades?
To this day, 50 Orangemen could be dropped onto the Garvaghy Road by crane – or more realistically, they could assemble one by one, just as many protests assemble – and be completely beyond the remit of the Parades Commission, provided everyone remained on the spot.
There is not much the police could do about it either, as long the road was not blocked and no other laws were broken. This scenario has never arisen because marching is the point of the exercise.
Orange Order members protest at being unable to........