Michelle O'Neill invited for police interview over Garvaghy Road protest

Michelle O'Neill says she has received a letter inviting her for a police interview in relation to her involvement in a Garvaghy Road protest.

In a statement, the Northern Ireland first minister said she will "co-operate with the investigation".

On Thursday, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said individuals "reasonably suspected of committing offences" would receive letters for interview.

It relates to alleged breaches of a Parades Commission decision to allow a protestant Orange Order march along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road for the first time since being banned in 1998.

Despite being permitted late last month, the parade has not happened because of local resident demonstrations.

Ms O'Neill and Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald were pictured meeting Garvaghy Road residents on 27 and 30 September and 3 October.

Ms O'Neill said on Friday: "For the last two weeks, I have stood in solidarity with the Garvaghy Road residents as attempts were made to force an unwanted Orange march through their community.

"I will continue to stand with the Garvaghy Road residents who should be allowed to live in peace and free from sectarian intimidation.

"Because it is always right to stand up for what is right. And there can be no going back."

Unionists have criticised the first minister and other Sinn Fein ministers for being in the area of the Garvaghy Road in Portadown during the impasse.

Ms O'Neill, along with Ms McDonald and party colleagues Conor Murphy, John O'Dowd and Gerry Kelly, visited the Garvaghy Road on Friday.

Mr Murphy, Mr O'Dowd and Mr Kelly have also been contacted by the PSNI.

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Ms McDonald again urged Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant to act to bring the 13-day Drumcree stand-off to an end.

She said: "It has been our expectation, it was our wish from the get-go, that the secretary of state will intervene, and we're calling on him again to do exactly that.

"No further time should be wasted, we need to bring clarity, we need to bring finality."

But Portadown deputy district master Alastair Power said there will be "serious consequences from the Unionist community" if Sir Chris intervenes to stop the parade.

"We have said to the secretary of state from the start of this process that we are expecting him and the chief constable to do the right thing for the law-abiding people that is up here on this hill and allow the parade to go through," he said.

Sir Chris has failed to broker a compromise between ⁠the two sides, and ​is awaiting a ruling on Monday from Northern Ireland's ​Court of Appeal on whether residents can challenge the removal of the parade ban.

(c) Sky News 2026: Michelle O'Neill invited for police interview over Garvaghy Road protest