Member's statement: Garvaghy Road: Rule of Law
Member's statement by Mr Timothy Gaston on .
- MLA
- Mr Timothy Gaston
- Party at the time
- Traditional Unionist Voice
- Date
- 29 September 2026
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Garvaghy Road: Rule of Law
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5761232
Read the official Assembly record
Text
We have entered day 3 of the Portadown district being prevented from lawfully returning home for the first time in 28 years by mob rule. Let us remind ourselves that the active Parades Commission determination, which was tested in the courts twice, allows for 35 Orangemen to walk peacefully and silently along the Garvaghy Road. Sinn Féin MLAs teamed up with their dissident republican bedfellows, their new bedfellows in the SDLP and only a handful of Garvaghy Road residents to defy the rule of law and order. Yesterday, Gavin Robinson stood in Stormont's Great Hall and demanded that the PSNI do more than gather evidence: I agree with you, Gavin. He said that it must act against those who broke the law: again, I agree with you, Gavin. He further told the media that it could not be business as usual, but, Gavin, it was business as usual yesterday in the House. The Order Paper was worked through as though nothing had happened. As of this morning, Michelle O'Neill remains First Minister even though she refused to come to the House to answer questions and to call herself to order for illegally bringing people on to the streets in Portadown. How can she remain a fit partner in government for Emma Little-Pengelly? If the police were to call at O'Neill's door, she could simply point to the Executive and say, "Well, the DUP still considers me to be leading the Executive. I'm still the First Minister". Time needs to be called on that. If the police were to call at the door of other Sinn Féin Ministers, they could, sadly, say the same. If O'Neill should face prosecution, so should John O'Dowd, Caoimhe Archibald, Liz Kimmins and the Principal Deputy Speaker, Carál Ní Chuilín. Sadly, we have seen all this before: the DUP pledged unalterable opposition to the sea border and then took part in the Executive to implement it. If the DUP holds the conviction and if it is right that something should happen, it is time to call an end to this farce. The rule of law must be upheld. No parade, no Stormont — and no surrender.
360 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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