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

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

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

Speaking to the media outside the court, Garvaghy residents' spokesman Breandán Mac Cionnaith said: "The case has been adjourned to let the three judges come to a conclusion.

"We believe all the arguments have been made and listened to and we await their decision.

"Our legal team put forward all the arguments and were very clear what the situation was in relation to the parade and I don't think we have anything to regret so far."

Breandán also revealed there is "another case" in relation to the matter "in the pipeline."

Speaking outside court, Jamie Bryson, legal advisor for Portadown District condemned abuse towards Carla Lockhart MP as "absolutely vile" and revealed she now requires protection.

On the legal case, he said: "Those who have disobeyed the law all week and stood in defiance of it have come back before the court and are now trying to use the law.

"We have abided by the law from the start and whatever the decision is, we'll abide by it."

He also hit out at "mobs" on the Garvaghy Road and said the Portadown Lodge on Sunday night held a prayer meeting "for those who hate them."

He said there was a contract between the "law" and the "mob".

Carla Lockhart said it was a "sad reflection of society" of the abuse she has suffered and said she will not be deterred from standing up for Portadown District LOL No 1.

A stand-off in Portadown sparked by the controversial ruling has been going on for more than a week.

It follows a Parades Commission determination last Friday to permit 35 members of Portadown District to march along the Garvaghy Road.

Last Sunday, residents and supporters blocked the Garvaghy Road to stop the march which was due to start at Drumcree church at 8am.

Numerous attempts to march have all been stopped by the PSNI.

Talks between Portadown District, the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition and Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant have failed to find a solution to the prolonged stalemate.

Speaking following the decision Gerry Carroll MLA said: "The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment with no date given, which only prolongs the sense of anxiety felt by the Garvaghy Road community, with no end in sight.

"But there is one group of people who could end it today, and that is Portadown District. They have had their answer from that community for 28 years, and they got it again last week when tens of thousands of people from every corner of this island stood on the Garvaghy Road and said no to this unwanted hate march. Four thousand local residents signed a petition voicing their clear opposition. The Order has been offered every opportunity to step back and has refused each time.

"They should read the room. There is no victory available here. 35 men walking a road where nobody wants them will not build a house, shorten a hospital waiting list or put a pound in anyone's pocket – in Portadown or anywhere else. The only thing it delivers is division, and division is the one commodity unionist leaders have never been short of.

“Whatever the court decides, people will continue to mobilise to stop this march. The community has been protected by ordinary people standing together, and this won’t change while everyone awaits a legal judgement.

"The likes of Jamie Bryson should also take a long, hard look at themselves. Calling for heavy-handed enforcement against thousands of peaceful protestors and keeping the temperature as high as possible for as long as possible serves absolutely no one,  including working class Protestants. The Order should withdraw this application and let the people of Portadown get on with their lives in peace.”