Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has come under pressure after being photographed alongside masked men at a counter-protest opposing a pro-Palestine march through a Co Down town.
The DUP representative was one of a number of unionist politicians on the ground on Saturday.
Ms Lockhart has also hit out at how the operation was policed after water cannon and riot police were dispatched to the area.
What was the March for Gaza?
The March for Gaza was a 25 mile long walk from Lurgan, Co Armagh along the Newry Canal towpath to Omeath in Co Louth, which was organised by the Lurgan branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign. The march raised money for Palestine Aid Ireland and Children Not Numbers and symbolised the distance it would take to walk the length Gaza Strip which is also 25 miles.
Why was the march controversal?
Last year, four arrests were made and a number of people were cautioned when “minor disorder” broke out as the march made it’s way through the Scarva section of the protest.
What was the Parades Commission determination?
The Parades Commission granted permission for the march with 1,500 participants, but placed a number of conditions on it, including that no participant should enter Scarva, that no flags or emblems of any type should be displayed and that no chanting or singing should take placeduring the section of the route along the towpath which passes Scarva.
Meanwhile, a group called Scarva Concerned Residents were granted permission for a demonstration of 100 people on Scarva Bridge, with conditions including refraining from “provocative behaviour”.
What was the police response to the protests?
Police officers, armoured Land Rovers, riot police and water cannons were deployed to the village ahead of the protests. A line of police Land Rovers blocked off the bridge which connects the towpath and the village.
Were there any incidents in the village?
Journalists and photographers who were on the ground in Scarva covering the events were reportedly surrounded by counter protesters and forcibly removed from the area. One journalist claimed on social media that photographers were attacked with stones. Footage circulating on social media also appears to show masked counterprotesters hurling mysoginistic abuse and other profanities at those taking part in the march. Masked protestors were also said to be flying UDA flags
Why is Carla Lockhart coming under pressure?
Images and footage on social media shows Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart standing with the masked protesters as they hurled abuse and attempted to intimidate those taking part in the march.
What has Carla Lockhart said?
In a lengthy social media post on Sunday, the Upper Bann MP said that she will “never apologise” for standing with her community.
“I was there alongside DUP MLAs, DUP councillors, UUP councillors, a TUV councillor and local community leaders. Throughout the day we engaged with senior police officers, relayed concerns, encouraged restraint and worked to ensure calm heads prevailed. We were not there to inflame tensions. We were there to prevent them escalating,” she said.
“Those who were present know exactly how much work went on behind the scenes. There was constant engagement with officers, discussions around crowd management and efforts to ensure there was no physical interaction between opposing groups. Thankfully, what could have become a far more volatile situation, passed without serious incident. That did not happen by accident.
“It is therefore disappointing, though not surprising, to hear criticism from those who were nowhere to be seen when tensions were high.”
Ms Lockhart hit out at a number of other elected representatives who criticised her for standing with the protesters.
She continued: “The abuse directed at me since yesterday has been disgraceful, but it will not silence me. It simply reinforces why it is important that people continue to speak up and represent the communities they serve.
“Yesterday I stood with my community. I engaged with the police. I am thankful this all passed off without incident. I do not condone any attacks on the police but I also do not condone police aggression. I worked alongside colleagues from across unionism and local community representatives to help ensure calm heads prevailed.
“I make absolutely no apology for that.”
What has DUP leader Gavin Robinson said?
In a post on the social media platform X, Gavin Robinson said: “I’ve stood on the ground in many riot situations. Most people commenting haven’t a clue what they’re talking about.
“Carla, Diane, Jonathan and our Councillors were in Scarva doing the hard thing. They weren’t there for selfies or social media posts.
“They were there to provide leadership, keep calm heads and help ensure a difficult situation did not become a worse one. Those who were actually there know the role they played.”
What have the UUP and TUV said?
UUP Aldermen Glenn Barr and Ian Burns called for a full examination of the events surrounding Saturday’s parade through Scarva, citing serious concerns regarding the conduct of the Parades Commission, the cost of the policing operation, and apparent breaches of the Commission’s own determination. Party leader Jon Burrows MLA has written to both the Parades Commission and the PSNI requesting meetings to discuss the handling of the matter and to seek an update on the investigation into the alleged breaches of the determination.
TUV leader Jim Allister MP said: “I am pleased that members of my party were among those who stood with the loyalists of Scarva on Saturday to protest against the small Republican coat-trailing rabble who paraded behind a banner calling for the extermination of Jews in the Middle East.
“No Unionist will take lectures from Sinn Fein who glorify and justify IRA terror.
“No Unionist will take lectures from the SDLP who promised ‘civil disobedience at a very minimum’ unless their demands were met.
“No Unionist will take lectures from the sanctimonious Alliance Party, led by a Justice Minister who doesn’t seem to understand that the role of public representatives when it comes to tense situations is to seek to avoid trouble and keep calm.
“TUV, as the photos from Saturday show, stood at the front alongside representatives from the DUP and UUP. Had unionist leaders not been there we might very well have seen people beaten off the streets, water cannon deployed and the Republican parade attacked.
“Maybe that’s what those complaining really wanted to happen. Maybe the fake outrage today is born out of frustration at the restraint and control displayed by Loyalists which didn’t give them the headlines they wanted.
“Whatever the reason, I note that the torrent of abuse online — including instances of defamation of TUV members — from Republicans directed at Unionists has passed without comment from those delivering their lectures for the benefit of their own echo chambers.”
What have other parties said?
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly has lodged a formal complaint with the Westminster Standards Commissioner over Carla Lockhart’s conduct at the protest.
Speaking on Sunday, Ms Brolly said: “It is clear that rather than seeking to encourage the group to remove masks which were in place to intimidate marchers, Miss Lockhart is clearly seen to be engaging with those masked men.
“I believe those actions to be against the letter and the spirit of the Code of conduct and is not conducive to good community relations, and as such I am asking the Commissioner to investigate.
“People have the right to parade and to protest, but they don’t have the right, nor does any elected representative, to intimidate people or support those that do.
“Those protesting the slaughter of innocent people in Palestine engaged in a lawful action, and to be met not only with a mob of masked men but an MP acting with them, is not acceptable in 2026.
“I want to send a message to those who would seek to gain electorally by standing with those who seek to intimidate others, you will fail.”
South Down MP Chris Hazzard tweeted: “South Down is a welcoming place defined by beautiful forests, mountains, and beaches – not masked intimidation Next time you visit, Carla Lockhart, you should look into what our constituency actually has to offer, rather than standing with masked men intimidating women and children.”
Lagan Valley MP Sorcha Eastwood tweeted: “As an MP representing a constituency of 112,00 people, people with very diverse views and life experiences, I work every day to try and bring people together by leading and showing positive example by going everywhere in Lagan Valley.
“I certainly don’t please everyone all of the time and that’s not the aim. But we have an important role in working for all and showing good example.
“Standing in a crowd with people covering faces with masks or scarves whilst the crowd shout obscenities and abuse is not something we should be anywhere near, never mind in the middle of. We all have a role to play in providing positive leadership and this falls shockingly short of it.”
The SDLP’s Matthew O’Toole said: “I work constructively with DUP reps who are able and personally very decent people. But the scenes from Scarva are a reminder of the unmistakable Paisleyite DNA which panders to and connives with thuggery, then plays dumb when called out. Appalling behaviour.”
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