With controversy continuing among unionist politicians over the minister’s decision around the Orange Order parade in Portadown, Sir Chris said he thought it would be better if “more people in Northern Ireland can moderate their language”.
He stepped in on Friday to ban the parade from returning along its traditional route on the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road after police said they were unable to facilitate it.
Crowds of protesters had turned out on the mainly nationalist road in opposition to the parade, which had been permitted for the first time for almost 30 years.
Orangemen at a police barricade close to Drumcree Church formed to prevent them entering the Garvaghy Road (Brian Lawless/PA)
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DUP leader Gavin Robinson was among those who criticised the Secretary of State’s intervention, stating he had “bent the knee” to “threats of violence and disorder”.
The Northern Ireland Secretary told the BBC Good Morning Ulster programme that he had tried “everything I possibly could” to reach a compromise between the Orange Order and Garvaghy Road residents.
He said: “We were very, very close. I think I described it at the time as tantalisingly close to an agreement between both sides, and that would have been ideal.
“Unfortunately, that in the end wasn’t possible … there were a lot of loud voices calling in either direction against compromise, and I think compromises are the best.”
Asked if he had given in to violence, Sir Chris said: “No, I haven’t, and I’m very clear about this.
“I know that this is an argument that the DUP have made, but I think they’re just plain wrong.
“I think the more people in Northern Ireland can moderate their language, the better.
“I haven’t succumbed to violence. I have made sure that there is peace, and I would actually commend the police in Northern Ireland for the way in which everything, notwithstanding the very raw feelings that there are in Drumcree and Portadown, actually the vast majority of this event has happened without any violence.”
Sir Chris said the Parades Commission, which rules on contentious parades in Northern Ireland, needed to command the maximum possible support from communities across Northern Ireland.
Protesters blocking the Garvaghy Road in Portadown (Peter Morrison/PA)
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He said: “There are issues around the Parades Commission, and I think it’s responsible for me to have a review of the way they’re operating.
“That’s why we’ve got Justice O’Hara looking specifically at the internal workings of the Parades Commission to make sure that it can proceed.”
Meanwhile, an application has been made to the Parades Commission for a march along the lower Ormeau Road in Belfast, previously a parading flashpoint.
The request was filed to the Parades Commission by Belfast Walker Club, a local branch of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, for a parade on November 7.
The proposed route would begin on November 7 from Ballynafeigh Orange Hall before passing through the Ormeau Road, across Ormeau Bridge and onwards to Donegall Pass.
Loyal order parades have been prevented from proceeding over the Ormeau Bridge since 1999.