News Story

An “appropriate and proportionate policing operation” has been planned ahead of a march in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and a counter-protest.

The Great March for Gaza, organised by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) in Lurgan, is set to proceed from the Co Armagh town on Saturday morning to Newry, to represent the 25-mile length of the Gaza Strip.

It aims to raise money for Palestine Aid Ireland and Children Not Numbers.

The procession will travel along the Newry towpath for part of the way, passing the village of Scarva, where local residents have raised objections.

The Parades Commission has granted permission for the march with 1,500 participants projected, but has 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 for no chanting or singing during the section of the route along the towpath which passes Scarva.

Meanwhile, a group called Scarva Concerned Residents has permission for a demonstration of 100 people on Scarva Bridge, with conditions including refraining from “provocative behaviour”.

It comes after a similar event last year which saw what police termed as “minor disorder” and four arrests, as well as number of people cautioned.

In a statement on Friday the Police Service of Northern Ireland said “an appropriate and proportionate policing operation” will be in place for events planned between Lurgan and Newry on Saturday.

They added: “Some traffic disruption should be expected and motorists should follow any diversions and/or direction given by police on the ground. Anyone not participating is asked to avoid walking along the Portadown-Newry Canal Towpath if possible.

“Participants in the organised events are reminded that whilst police will always facilitate and uphold the right to lawful, peaceful procession and protest, that right also comes with certain responsibilities.”

In a joint statement, DUP Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart, MLAs Diane Dodds and Jonathan Buckley and South Down MLA Diane Forsythe expressed concern.

“The people of Scarva have once again found themselves in a situation they neither wanted nor asked for,” they said.

“Residents and businesses have consistently raised concerns about the impact this parade has on their community, particularly in light of the tensions and disorder associated with previous events.

“People understand and respect the role of lawful and established cultural events within community life. However, there is understandable anger when an overtly political demonstration is brought into an area despite clear local opposition and after the scenes witnessed previously.”

They added: “Community relations are built through mutual respect and common sense. When concerns are repeatedly dismissed, confidence in the process is inevitably damaged.

“My priority is with the residents who will once again have to live with the consequences of decisions taken elsewhere. They deserve to be heard, they deserve to be respected and they deserve far greater consideration than they have received.”