Jamie Bryson Rejects PSNI Engagement After Drumcree Ruling

Loyalist Jamie Bryson said his community will stop engaging with the PSNI after the Orange Order was prevented from marching through the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road, as a legal challenge was heard at Belfast High Court involving the parade decision and senior officials.

According to Irish News, Bryson, described as a legal advisor to Portadown Orangemen, spoke outside the court after the High Court heard that Secretary of State Chris Bryant and Constable Jon Boutcher face a challenge over last week’s decision to stop the disputed parade.

Bryson said he had met Jon Boutcher with the district and referred to a conversation in which the chief constable discussed finding a resolution.

"With the district," said Jamie Bryson, the loyalist legal advisor.

"He was creating space to see if we could find a solution," said Jamie Bryson, referring to Jon Boutcher.

Bryson criticized the role he said the chief constable had taken during the dispute and questioned whether police leadership should seek political solutions. He also said the issue would be examined through the court process.

"On what planet should the chief constable be creating space for political solutions," said Jamie Bryson, the loyalist legal advisor.

"Jon Boutcher has been a politician, he has been a peacemaker, all we ever wanted him to be was a policeman. And we are going to find out in this court what exactly he has been doing," said Jamie Bryson, the loyalist legal advisor.

Bryson said he supported Orange Order members who were not engaging with Boutcher and said he would also refuse direct engagement with the chief constable.

"Not be engaging," said Jamie Bryson, describing his position on contact with Jon Boutcher.

According to Irish News, Bryson said he would continue to follow the law but argued that wider contact between loyalist communities and the PSNI would be affected by the dispute.

"I’m going to abide by the law but I can tell you this, when Jon Boucher’s senior officers think the next time that there’s difficulties in unionist and loyalist communities that they’re going to phone community representatives and get assistance then they’re going to find out very quickly that they’re not," said Jamie Bryson, the loyalist legal advisor.

"So John Boucher’s made his bed and he can lie on it," said Jamie Bryson, the loyalist legal advisor.

Bryson said he believed many people in unionist and loyalist communities no longer wanted community engagement with police. Senior PSNI officers are understood to remain in regular contact with loyalist representatives, according to Irish News.

"The situation is very clear," said Jamie Bryson, the loyalist legal advisor.

"In my view many people in unions and loyalist communities no longer want to have any community engagement with the PSNI," said Jamie Bryson, the loyalist legal advisor.

Bryson also criticized Boutcher’s handling of policing responsibilities and said the community’s view was linked to the parade decision.

"How do you think our community feel when we have a chief constable who cannot uphold the law?" said Jamie Bryson, the loyalist legal advisor.

"Jon Boucher says he’s a law and order man but he’s not," said Jamie Bryson, the loyalist legal advisor.

"He can’t uphold the law and that is the factual reality of where we stand today," said Jamie Bryson, the loyalist legal advisor.