Sinn Féin leaders say they have not received police letters over Garvaghy Road protests

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 9 Oct, 11:08 · Archive

Sinn Féin politicians say they have not received letters from police investigating counter-protests against an Orange Order march in Portadown.

Police have begun investigating protests over the Drumcree parading dispute on the Garvaghy Road at the end of last month. The police said they had started issuing letters inviting people "reasonably suspected" of committing offences linked to the protests to interview.

Sinn Féin MP John Finucane said on Friday he had not received a letter and was not aware whether First Minister Michelle O'Neill or other Executive ministers from the party had been called to interview. Finucane was one of several Sinn Féin representatives, including Executive ministers Caoimhe Archibald and John O'Dowd, present among hundreds attending the Garvaghy Road over the preceding week and a half. The party confirmed on Thursday that some members had received letters from police.

O'Neill said on Friday she has not yet received a letter but expects to do so. When asked if she anticipated receiving correspondence from the Police Service of Northern Ireland, she said: "Of course I do." She said that when she does, she "will respond accordingly".

O'Neill has previously defended her attendance at the counter-protests, saying she was "proud to stand with the residents" and that "when the law is wrong, I will stand firmly against it". Finucane said Sinn Féin makes "absolutely no apology" for standing with the residents and that "nobody's above the law, nobody's ever suggested otherwise".

Unionist politicians have called for action to be taken against O'Neill and other senior Sinn Féin politicians who took part in the protests against the Orange Order march. Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly of the Democratic Unionist Party welcomed developments in the PSNI investigation.

How it is being reported

• First Minister Michelle O’Neill says she has not received letter from PSNI over Garvaghy Road protestsScroll down to read our live coverageBelfast Telegraph · 9 Oct, 11:05
• First minister has not received police letter over Garvaghy Road protestsThe first minister says she expects to receive a letter from the PSNI and will respond "accordingly".BBC Northern Ireland · 9 Oct, 10:51
• Sinn Féin MP says he has not received police letter in Garvaghy Road probeMr Finucane said Sinn Féin makes “absolutely no apology” for standing with the residents of the Garvaghy RoadBelfast Live · 9 Oct, 10:27
• Sinn Féin MP says he has not received police letter in Garvaghy Road probeBelfast Telegraph · 9 Oct, 10:02

In this story: John Finucane · Michelle O'Neill · Sinn Féin · PSNI · Garvaghy Road · Portadown · Orange Order

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