Thousands of Protesters blocked a road leading into a Catholic area of Northern Ireland ahead of an Orange Order march. It's the first time in nearly 30 years that the Orange Order parade has been allowed to go down the Garvaghy Road.

The Orange Order is a Protestant pro-British organisation. The two largest parties in Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party, have been on opposite sides of the argument.

Ending the Troubles meant balancing competing identities in Northern Ireland. During the so-called Troubles, some 3,600 people were killed while some 50,000 were wounded.

Tensions are running high in Northern Ireland after the High Court in Belfast approved a controversial parade, according to France 24. Around 2,000 protesters have blocked the route into a Catholic area where the Protestant march was due to pass, according to France 24.

Hervé Amoric reports from Portadown, according to France 24. The time-limited sitting beginning at 12.20am this morning was heard before Justice Michael Humphreys, according to RTÉ News.

Key figures

  • Deaths: 3,600 (according to CBS News and ABC News)
  • Injured: 50,000 (according to CBS News and ABC News)

What could happen next

  • "Police are engaging and working with all parties and will continue to do so, according to ABC News.