Sinn Féin MLAs quizzed in Garvaghy Road probe rule out quitting Policing Board

By Claudia Savage (Press Association)

Sinn Féin MLAs being interviewed by police in relation to an allegedly unlawful protest on the Garvaghy Road have said they will not resign from Northern Ireland’s policing oversight body.

Deirdre Hargey and Gerry Kelly were two of a number of the party’s representatives pictured alongside thousands of others preventing the passage of an Orange Order parade through the largely nationalist enclave in Portadown.

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald and vice-president and Stormont First Minister Michelle O’Neill also attended interviews on Wednesday as the PSNI investigates the allegedly unnotified protest on the Garvaghy Road.

A Parades Commission decision to allow the Orange Order parade to proceed down the Garvaghy Road for the first time in almost 30 years prompted a two-week stand-off at the site of what was a notorious parading flashpoint during the Troubles.

The Drumcree parade was ultimately unable to take place as a result of the protest and the commission’s ruling was overturned by Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant.

Speaking to reporters before entering Musgrave police station on Friday, Mr Kelly said he “came into politics to do the right thing”.

He added: “I believe I did the right thing there, I would do it again. I did it in the 1990s along with them.

“That was a just cause, and I will continue to do that.”

Ms Hargey reiterated the pair “stood on what was right” when they attended the protest, and referred to an application that has been made by a branch of the loyal order group the Apprentice Boys of Derry for a march on the Ormeau Road in her constituency.

A 1,500 person protest by the Lower Ormeau Concerned Community has also been notified to the Parades Commission for the same day, November 7.

“We stood with the residents at the Garvaghy Road, and we will continue to stand in solidarity with them as they face down any attempt to force an unwanted sectarian march through the heart of their community, and indeed will stand with any community, including that of the Lower Ormeau Road, that are facing a similar challenge next week as well,” she said.

“We’re obviously here today to follow the due process, and that’s something that we will engage in, but we will continue to do what’s right and to stand with those residents in the time ahead.”

Mr Kelly said the pair were “not nervous” adding: “They’ll ask whatever questions they ask, and that’ll take its own direction. That’s what the police are for.”

Ms Hargey added: “Our thoughts today are with the residents of the Garvaghy Road and indeed the Ormeau Road as well, and that’s what we’ll continue to stand with.”

The MLAs for North Belfast and South Belfast are two of Sinn Féin’s three political representatives on the Northern Ireland Policing board, the independent public body that scrutinises the work and performance of the PSNI.

Asked if they would resign their positions on the board in the event they were found guilty of any offences, Mr Kelly replied: “No.”

Ms Hargey said: “Our role on the Policing Board will remain, and we’ll continue to stand up for people.”

Sinn Féin senator Conor Murphy was also seen leaving Musgrave police station on Friday morning.

Sinn Fein MLAs Gerry Kelly (centre) and Deirdre Hargey (right) speaking to the media outside Musgrave police station in Belfast, ahead of their interviews with police in relation to attendance at an allegedly unlawful parade on the Garvaghy Road in Drumcree (Photo by Claudia Savage/Press Association)