SINN FÉIN LEADER Mary Lou McDonald has said she and her party will “of course” cooperate with the PSNI over any potential investigation into the Garvaghy Road protest.

McDonald said, “There’s no question of us cooperating with any process that will unfold” as she defended Sinn Féin’s participation in the protest, which police have described as unnotified and therefore unlawful.

Asked about the legality of the protest, which was also attended by Northern Ireland’s First Minister and Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O’Neill, she said: “Others will determine whether that is in fact the case.”

Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday Politics Northern Ireland programme, McDonald said: “This comes down to right and wrong.

“This comes down to a simple calculation by all of us as to what is right and just and what is in the best interests of our communities.”

She added: “There are moments in life when you have to take a stand and this is one of those moments.”

“Michelle O’Neill and I – as Sinn Féin leaders, as political leaders, as people who care passionately about the society that we can live in and the future that we can build collectively, collaboratively for everybody – know that for that to happen, we have to stand foursquare with the community of the Garvaghy Road.”

McDonald’s comments come as the stand-off continues a week on from when the loyal order march was originally supposed to go ahead.

Residents on the Garvaghy Road have been protesting since last Sunday to block the 35-man contingent of the Portadown District Orange Order from progressing through the area. 

A major policing operation has been put in place for the weekend with both sides in the dispute organising rallies to bolster support, with positions entrenched in the run-up to a further legal challenge.

Under parading laws in Northern Ireland, protests must be notified to, and approved by, the Parades Commission adjudication body.

People attending at a community event in support of the Garvaghy Road residents Mark Marlow / PA Mark Marlow / PA / PA

New legal bid 

A fresh legal bid against the march is to be heard at the Court of Appeal in Belfast on Monday, with lawyers for the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition arguing that the Parades Commission had “materially misdirected itself” on the police assessment of the potential for disorder and had not given an “accurate representation of the evidence received from PSNI” in its decision.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant appealed for calm in the run-up to the weekend, stating that he had “hope people can still find further compromise” despite chairing talks during the week which ended without agreement.

Bryant’s description of the impasse as being between “a rock and a hard place” was derided as “nonsense” by Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday as thousands of people gathered in support of the residents, she said: “The Secretary of State is tone-deaf to the needs of Garvaghy Road. He has a superficial understanding of the needs of this community and we’re not going to tolerate it.”

Deputy First Minister and DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly described the rally as “electioneering” as she criticised O’Neill and Sinn Féin for a “complete abdication of leadership”.

Bryant, who chaired talks with both sides during the week which were unsuccessful at reaching an agreement, said a prolonged stand-off in Portadown is “ultimately in nobody’s interests”.

O’Neill said the right outcome “includes no march down this road” as Sinn Féin called on Bryant to use his powers to prohibit the march.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant Liam McBurney / PA Liam McBurney / PA / PA

After the rally in support of the residents on Saturday, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Anthony McNally said anyone blocking the Garvaghy Road will still be treated as “participating in an unnotified and therefore illegal protest”.

The senior officer said evidence gathering remains ongoing and anyone found to have broken the law “will face criminal justice consequences”.

Orangeman legal adviser Jamie Bryson previously said Orangemen will accept the determination of the courts on Monday, challenging Garvaghy Road residents to do the same.

In a speech on Saturday, Breandán Mac Cionnaith, of the Garvaghy Road Residents’ Coalition, said there was “no logical reason” why the Orange march should proceed “through the heart of this community”, contending an alternative route “back the way they came” was available.

“Garvaghy Road was solved in 1998; it does not need to be solved again”, he said

As the stand-off continues, Irish Rap trio Kneecap and folk singer Radie Peat are to visit the Garvaghy Road this evening.