• The Court of Appeal has reserved judgement in a bid by Garvaghy Road residents to challenge the Parades Commission decision to allow thePortadown District Lodge parade to proceed down the road
• At the conclusion of today's hearing, Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan said it would work to a "swift time frame", but could not give a date for its decision
• A lawyer for the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition said the commission's decision was flawed as it "misdirected itself" when it came to assessing potential disorder the parade could cause
• A lawyer for Parades Commission told the court that the commission has not made a legal error in reaching its decision
• When Garvaghy Road residents spokesperson Breandán Mac Cionnaith was asked whether it would be the end of the road for the residents' legal action if the court found against him, he said he wouldn't prejudge the outcome but that he was "aware there is another (legal) action in the pipeline, not necessarily from us"

• There were about 200 people outside the court earlier today, including Sinn Féin politicians Deirdre Hargey and Gerry Kelly, who back the residents, and unionist representatives - including the DUP's Jonathan Buckley, Diane Dodds and Carla Lockhart - who support the Orangemen

• Meanwhile, other politicians spoke out at Stormont this morning and this afternoon with First Minister Michelle O'Neill reinforcing her commitment to stand with the Garvaghy Road residents while other politicians challenged O'Neill on her decision to take part in the protest

• While discussions were happening at Stormont and court, two members of the Portadown District of the Orange Order maintained a presence outside Drumcree Parish Church and about 40 people gathered on the Garvaghy Road - police also remain present

We're ending our live coverage for now - if you want more on this story head to our news article.

Darran Marshall
in Portadown

Beoga, The Mary Wallopers, Kneecap - these are some of the Irish groups to have visited the Garvaghy Road protest site in the past number of days, with some bringing musical performance to the gathered crowd.

Now, this afternoon, Dublin singer-songwriter Damien Dempsey has become the latest to visit.

He tells BBC News NI he was visiting to "support the great community here".

"(You) wouldn't force a 1916 parade down a loyalist area, so should be vice versa," he says, in reference to the decision to allow an Orange Order parade to travel down the Garvaghy Road.

"I'll sing a few songs, show the community some solidarity and just give them a life.

"We've had peace for so long now it's crazy to stir this all up again."

When beginning his performance, he introduced himself by saying it was "an honour and privilege for us to be here for one of the best communities in the world", adding "god bless you, and your mighty protest and all it embodies".

He then performed songs including The Micky Dam, Negative Vibes and Almighty Love.

Darran Marshall
in Portadown

It’s getting busy on the Garvaghy Road.

Schools have closed for the day and young people are now joining the protest.

I’d say there are more than 100 people here now. Musicians, including Damien Dempsey, are entertaining the crowd. Word has reached here that the Appeal Court judgement has been reserved.

Aileen Murray Marshall said: "I knew in my heart there would be no decision today."

Murray Marshall says she is prepared to stay there as long as it takes.

"I’m here for my grandchildren. Parents, fathers and grannies don’t want this. It’s like point scoring.

"As a mother, like any mother, I’d walk over hot coals for my children."

Marie-Therese Murray says she just wants everything to stop and go back to normal.

Her 12-year-old son died after being struck by a car on the Garvaghy Road at the height of the dispute in the 1990s.

"It's my son's anniversary next Saturday, 30 years.

"I just want it all to stop, for both Catholic and Protestant children. I want to stop. I don't want to see 1996 back all over again. Please stop".

Peter McNally said: “I’ve just heard the news. I’m not surprised. These things tend to go on for days. They're never sorted in one day. The whole community will stay here and stand side by side with each other".

DUP MP Carla Lockhart says it is a “sad reflection on society when you stand outside court and are abused, threatened”.

“As a public representative, it has been utterly disgraceful some of the behaviour over the last week and I want to say to all of those abusing, you certainly won’t deter me from doing what I do and for standing up for Portadown Orange District LOL Number One who deserve the right to fulfil their determination to walk the Garvaghy Road.

“Thirty-five Orangemen all of which live and work and do business in that community – they are of no threat to anyone.

“Many of them are elderly, it is utterly outrageous and you would really have to come out to be offended by them."

She adds: ”We will continue to abide by the law, it is a difficult day for Northern Ireland, whenever we see law breakers trying to flout and use the courts again.”

Speaking outside court, Bryson, had some very strong words for comments directed towards DUP MP Carla Lockhart, who was with him.

He said abuse she has taken is "absolutely vile".

“Those who stood on the steps of this court and called the mob down here have to take responsibility for what the mob has done on Friday, on Saturday,” he adds.

“Those who called this mob to this court have to take responsibility,” he adds.

“I don’t care about me, but what has happened to this female politician is absolutely scandalous.”

Image source, Reuters

Earlier, Jamie Bryson, legal adviser to the Orange Order's Portadown district and a loyalist activist, says that what has happened today is that “those who have defied the law” have come back before the court "and are now trying to use the law”.

He says Portadown Orange Order has abided by the law and whatever the court decision is “we’ll abide by it”.

“Last night, while more mobs were brought on to the Garvaghy Road, Orangemen were holding a prayer meeting, praying for the people who hate them,” he adds.

“That’s the contrast. And the contrast we have here is the law and the mob.”

He says the Portadown Orangemen’s position remains unchanged “there’s a lawful determination and that determination should be enforced”.

Matthew O'Toole addressed the chamber by echoing what Michelle O'Neill had just said which was that the residents of the Garvaghy Road didn't ask for this.

He said: "You're right first minister, the residents of the Garvaghy Road did not ask for this they want to be left to live in peace which is the least they should be able to expect."

"We also need to govern this place including setting a budget," he continued. "Do you agree with me in that regard, it would be wholly unacceptable for either yourself or the deputy first minister to resign your offices?"

O'Neill responds: "I assure the member, as I do every time they ask me that question, that I intend to continue to turn up for people, including the people on the Garvaghy Road."

"I want us to get a budget and actually we were in the midst of that process whenever that small minority of people out there decided to try and pull us backwards. We need to fight back against that and protect the peace and the progress from the past 28 years".

UUP leader Jon Burrows accuses O'Neill of trying to justify breaking the law.

He asks her does she agree with him that "most people in Northern Ireland now see her as completely morally bankrupt".

O'Neill replies: "No, I do not."

Alliance Party MLA Paula Bradshaw thanks Michelle O'Neill for attending the chamber today.

Her question focuses on reconciliation.

"What is your department doing? What can we say to the people outside of this building around the work on peace and reconciliation."

O'Neill says "any right minded person" in society would want them to protect peace.

She adds that her department is playing a "pivotal" role in this and they need to "double down" on it.

"Particularly in the aftermath of what has now been foisted back on this community, I am very vigilant about the needs of the wider Portadown community in the aftermath of what is happening."

DUP MLA Phillip Brett addressed the First Minister Michelle O'Neill earlier in the chamber.

He says, "When you became First Minister, you took a pledge of office which is in place at all times. The police service of Northern Ireland have now stated, a protest which you were involved in and encouraged others to be involved in, was unlawful".

He continues on by asking Michelle O'Neill to resign as First Minister.

O'Neill responds by saying: "Catch yourself on would be where I'd start with that one. I'm going to continue to turn up for the people of the Garvaghy Road."

TUV MLA Timothy Gaston said O'Neill has encouraged people to illegally block the Garvaghy Road, describing her as the "first minister of lawlessness".

He asks O'Neill: "Will you now be supporting all those who dislike legal decisions and ultimately will take to the streets, or is it only when it's ensuring there's not a Prod with an orange sash allowed about the place?"

O'Neill responds saying that she is a "first minister for what is right" and she will continue doing so, including standing up for the residents on the Garvaghy road.

"And we won't need to AI it," she adds.

Michelle O'Neill starts by addressing the assembly chamber by saying she is "fully committed" to the Good Friday Agreement and the ministerial code and pledge of office.

She says she "stands resolutely" with Garvaghy Road residents, adding that people from nationalist parties across the island of Ireland stood "proudly" with the residents.

"They are again experiencing sectarian intimidation as a result of the reckless demand for an unwanted, sectarian and triumphalist march through this peaceful community."

O'Neill points to the violence in the 1990s during the peak of the Drumcree dispute.

She adds: "Folks there is no going back to those dark days."

The speaker of the Assembly, Edwin Poots, says before proceedings begin on the urgent question "let me deal with a number of matters".

"I want to make to clear to the house the important point from me in the first minister being here today, it is not about the minister and issue involved in the urgent question, that is for the exchanges with members shortly.

"There is a larger principle involved and I say to all members across every party that they need to reflect on the potential implications of a minister not attending the house when an urgent question is selected in every instance and not just on this occasion."

Last week Michelle O'Neill traveled to Dublin instead of attending an urgent question called by the DUP's Phillip Brett.

Poots adds that he selected an urgent question from the SDLP's Cara Hunter on Education Minister Paul Givan's trip to Israel last year.

He says: "On whether the minister undertook that visit in that capacity. Ministers are always subject to the code of conduct regardless of what capacity they are engaged."

He adds that the decision not to attend was discourteous to members and "the wider public".

Later, on the steps of the courthouse, Garvaghy Road residents spokesperson Breandán Mac Cionnaith was asked whether it would be the end of the road for the residents' legal action if the court found against him.

He replied he wouldn't prejudge the outcome but that he was "aware there is another (legal) action in the pipeline, not necessarily from us".

When pressed for details, he replied he wouldn't elaborate saying: "Just watch the courts... I'm not going to get into the detail."

You can watch proceedings from the Northern Ireland Assembly by hitting play at the top of this page.

Breandán Mac Cionnaith, spokesperson for the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition (GRRC), has been reacting outside court as the judges adjourned the hearing to consider a decision.

He told the media a decision may come "later on today, could be tomorrow, could be the following day".

"We believe all the arguments have been made, have been listened to, and we'll wait for their decision."

He adds that the residents' lawyers "were very clear on what the situation was in relation to the parade and I don't think we've anything to regret so far".

Brendan Hughes
at Stormont

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has accused Sinn Féin of "dancing to the beat of the dissident drum" over the Drumcree parading dispute.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member described Sinn Féin's response to the issue as "disgraceful", saying her coalition partners had caused "significant damage" to the post of first minister.

During tetchy exchanges in the Northern Ireland Assembly chamber, Little-Pengelly claimed Michelle O'Neill "chose to follow the law of the mob instead of the law of the land".

During assembly questions on Monday, a Sinn Féin assembly member raised how the Parades Commission had met with the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) - an umbrella body that includes representatives of loyalist paramilitary groups.

Image source, PA Media

Deirdre Hargey said it "beggars belief that illegal paramilitary organisations should be facilitated in any way to influence legal processes, and particularly around parades".

The deputy first minister responded: "What beggars belief is the brass neck on Sinn Féin.

"Just last week you stood on the road shoulder to shoulder with dissidents, with provos, with those with appalling convictions."

Little-Pengelly said she had "absolutely no truck with paramilitarism" and accused Sinn Féin of hypocrisy.

She said that Sinn Féin "tries to demand equality then claim an exemption for themselves".

"Regardless of your view on the issue of the Orange Order or the parade, what is disgraceful, what has appalled people, is the damage done to the post of first minister by a first minister who stood there to defy the law," she said.

Julian O'Neill
at the Court of Appeal in Belfast

The Court of Appeal has reserved judgement in a bid by Garvaghy Road residents to challenge the Parades Commission decision to allow thePortadown District Lodge parade to proceed down the road.

Three judges listened to almost four hours of legal arguments inside a packed courtroom in Belfast.

Residents are appealing a High Court judge's decision, made on 27 September, to refuse them leave to apply for a judicial review.

At the conclusion of today's hearing, Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan said it would work to a "swift time frame", but could not give a date for its decision.

Last week the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed an investigation is under way into protests against the Garvaghy Road parade.

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said investigators are examining a number of potential offences including taking part in an unnotified protest, obstructing a lawful parade and breaching a Parades Commission determination.

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald and First Minister Michelle O'Neill were among those who attended the protest.

McDonald has said Sinn Féin will cooperate with any police investigation but argued there are moments in politics when people "have to take a stand".

Image source, PA Media

Asked about claims that the protest was illegal, she said that would be for others to determine.

The protest and the involvement of senior Sinn Féin figures have drawn criticism from unionist politicians.

As we reported earlier, DUP leader Gavin Robinson said that there was a "cavalier attitude" towards the rule of law by senior Sinn Féin representatives.

Robinson said police have "indicated very clearly" that protests on the Garvaghy Road were unnotified protests and there will be criminal sanctions.

The Ulster Unionist Party leader, Jon Burrows, has previously said Michelle O'Neill had "defied the rule of law".

Police say their investigation is ongoing.

Claire Graham & Julian O'Neill
at Belfast Court of Appeal

The Court of Appeal hearing has recommenced, with a lawyer for the Parades Commission on his feet.

He told the court that the commission has not made a legal error in reaching its decision, following on from arguments by lawyers for the residents this morning.

The court is hearing an appeal from the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition (GRRC) over the Parades Commission's decision to allow an Orange Order parade down the mainly nationalist road in Portadown.

As GRRC members, including spokesperson Breandán Mac Cionnaith, returned to court, the crowd shouted ‘Go on Brendy’ and ‘Tiocfaidh ár lá’, an Irish language phrase used by republicans that means 'our day will come'.

The crowd stayed silent as DUP MP Carla Lockhart, TUV MP Jim Allister, loyalist activist Jamie Bryson and Portadown Orangeman Alan Hynds headed in.