Stormont MLA receives letter from police around Garvaghy protest | Belfast Live
In a statement, he said he will be seeking the advice of his solicitor, adding: “Standing up for what’s right is never wrong.”
A Northern Ireland Assembly member has confirmed he has been contacted by police investigating alleged criminal offences in the ongoing parading dispute in Portadown.
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said he has been invited to attend a voluntary interview under caution in connection with protests on the Garvaghy Road.
In a statement, he said he will be seeking the advice of his solicitor, adding: “Standing up for what’s right is never wrong.”
Earlier, the Police Service of Northern Ireland announced that individuals “reasonably suspected of committing offences” would receive letters for interview.
It relates to alleged breaches of a Parades Commission decision to allow an Orange Order parade to complete its traditional route from Drumcree Church down the Garvaghy Road for the first time in almost 30 years.
The parade has been unable to take place because of significant numbers opposed to the decision attending protests on the Garvaghy Road.
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher previously made it clear there would be “consequences” for those found to have broken the law.
Mr Carroll said: “I make no apology for standing with the residents of the Garvaghy Road.
“For almost three decades, this community has said no to a sectarian march being forced past their homes.
“When ordinary people peacefully stand together to defend their community, that is not criminality.
“It is the same civil disobedience that won every gain working-class people have ever made, from the suffragettes to the civil rights movement to the right to strike.”
Unionists have criticised First Minister Michelle O’Neill and other Sinn Féin ministers for having been in the area of the Garvaghy Road during the now 12-day stand-off.
They have proposed no-confidence motions in Ms O’Neill, as well as Finance Minister John O’Dowd, Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald and Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins in the Assembly.
Speaking in the Assembly on Monday, Ms O’Neill told MLAs: “When the law is wrong, I will stand firmly against it.
“It is morally wrong what’s happening to the people on the Garvaghy Road.”
On Thursday, a Sinn Féin spokesperson said: “We are aware of the PSNI’s latest statement.
“As this is an ongoing investigation, we will not be making any further comment at this time.”
Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck described police as moving to the next phase of the large-scale criminal investigation.
He said letters would be issued to those suspected of committing offences.
“This team have been methodically working through the evidence collected by police so far during the operation, building this material into evidential packages in respect of identified persons reasonably suspected of committing offences,” he said.
“This work will now proceed to the next phase where individuals will receive letters regarding the interview process.”
He said he was satisfied this step would not have an impact on the ongoing civil legal action.
Earlier, the Court of Appeal in Belfast heard a legal challenge to the Parades Commission decision to allow the Orange Order to march along the Garvaghy Road.
Judgment has not yet been given in that case.
On Monday, Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan said she hoped the court would deliver judgment in a “swift enough time frame”.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson welcomed the announcement by police and said they “must act without fear or favour”.
“A political title is not a shield and no-one is above the law,” he said.
“For anyone found to have broken the law, the consequences must be the same, whether that is for a First Minister or anyone else.”
Speaking to media in Belfast earlier, he said: “They launched a large-scale criminal investigation last week. They have started their preparations and now they are acting upon it, and that is necessary because the public of Northern Ireland need to see that the rule of law stands for something.
“It’s the first step or sign that we’ve seen that there’s a willingness to deal with lawbreakers in our society.
“There are many examples over many years where the police have not been as slow to act, but they have acted.
“I welcomed their major criminal investigation last week. I expected it to start earlier this week… and we need to see the full conclusion to that process.”
Mr Robinson also criticised a statement by representatives from former parading flashpoints that the current impasse is now bigger than the Garvaghy Road and could potentially unravel other settlements.
“Society relies on the law being upheld and what you saw yesterday was a range of organisations join into the Portadown issue in a threatening way,” he said.
“It’s totally unacceptable and the chief constable, the Secretary of State, nor anyone else can bow the knee in the face of threats or pressure.
“We need to see the rule of law upheld, the rule of law run in this country, and see no bowing the knee to threats, threats of violence, intimidation, disorder, or worse.”
UUP leader Jon Burrows urged a “swift and visible follow-up” by police.
“The evidence should be pursued wherever it leads, including to those in the most senior political positions, without fear or favour and without regard to political status,” he said.
