Debate contribution: Paramilitarism, Criminality and Organised Crime

Debate contribution by Miss Deirdre Hargey on 5 October 2026.

MLA: Miss Deirdre Hargey
Party at the time: Sinn Féin
Date: 5 October 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: Paramilitarism, Criminality and Organised Crime
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5774116

Text

Thank you very much, deputy First Minister. The Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) recently gave evidence to the Parades Commission regarding the Drumcree application. The LCC represents illegal organisations that are still involved in racketeering, drug dealing and asking for payments from their own communities. Do you agree that they were also heavily involved in the previous Drumcree dispute, which led to the deaths of 21 people from that community? Do you also agree that it beggars belief that illegal loyalist paramilitary organisations are facilitated in any way to influence legal processes, particularly those around parades?

95 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Part of an exchange

This follow-up belongs to: Oral question AQO 4023/22-27.

Assessment

Not analysed

This is the same MLA’s follow-up within the exchange on their own question. It is analysed together with that question and is not counted separately, so one question is never counted twice.

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