Alcohol licence granted for parade

There are almost 4,000 Orange Order parades in NI every year

A judge has granted a County Londonderry publican an occasional licence for an Orange Order parade in Maghera despite police objections.

Nigel Crookes wanted the licence from 11am to 11pm on Saturday so he could sell alcohol in Pattersons Yard.

Fifty-three bands, 3,000 Orange Order members and 8,000 supporters are expected at the parade.

Inspector John Burrows said he believed the licence could add to the potential for public order offences.

The applicant's solicitor described the police objections as 'overkill'.

He said the local town sergeant had no objections and the objections before the court had come from higher up the PSNI hierarchy.

The District Judge McElholm said the police objections did not fall within the statutory grounds for refusal and he granted the licence from noon to 2030 BST.