Tóibín PSNI interview over Drumcree protest postponed

Updated / Thursday, 5 Nov 2026 21:46

A PSNI interview with Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín over his presence at the Garvaghy Road protest in Portadown has been postponed, after he requested it be conducted through the Irish language.

The interview under caution was due to take place on Friday in Belfast.

As a result of his request, Mr Tóibín has said the interview is being rearranged for a later time when an Irish speaking interview team is available.

Mr Tóibín received a summons from the PSNI earlier this week.

The demonstration on the predominantly nationalist road was staged amid efforts to prevent an Orange Order parade passing down the route from nearby Drumcree Church.

Members of Sinn Féin and People before Profit-Solidarity have already been interviewed by police officers investigating their participation in the protest.

Mr Tóibín has called this a "monumental" waste of the PSNI and elected representatives' time "to go through the charade of these meetings".

He called it a "serious waste of time and money".

A Parades Commission decision to allow the Orange Order parade to proceed down the Garvaghy Road for the first time in almost 30 years prompted a two-week stand-off at the site of what was a notorious parading flashpoint during the Troubles.

The parade was ultimately unable to take place because of significant numbers of protesters on the Garvaghy Road, leading Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant to overturn the commission's decision and ban the procession.

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has previously made it clear there would be "consequences" for those found to have broken the law.