Drumcree: TUV say 'a line has been crossed' by First Minister Michelle O'Neill and DUP should collapse Stormont

Michelle O’Neill has become the First Minister for lawlessness, and the DUP should collapse Stormont if the Drumcree parade is not allowed to proceed along the Garvaghy Road, Timothy Gaston has said.

The TUV MLA also accused Sinn Fein of using the decades-old dispute to ‘gaslight’ nationalism ahead of next year’s scheduled election.

placeholder image — (left to right) TUV councillor Chrissy Jamieson, TUV chairman and councillor Allister Kyle, TUV MLA MLA Timothy Gaston, TUV councillor Ron McDowell and TUV representative Ann McClure speaking to the media in the Great Hall at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, following a day-long stand-off in the Drumcree parading dispute. Thousands of protesters formed a blockade on Sunday along the predominantly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown, in a bid to prevent a contentious Orange Order parade passing. Picture date: Monday September 28, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

The first minister has been slammed by unionist politicians for taking part in and encouraging an road block on the Garvaghy Road, resulting in the PSNI saying they were unable to facilitate the parade.

Orangemen were initially given the go-ahead to walk the contested stretch of public road in Portadown on Friday – prompting a weekend of legal challenges.

On Friday and Saturday, senior Sinn Fein figures addressed crowds – many of whom were from the party – outside the courts in Belfast. SDLP figures were also in attendance.

The courts gave the march the final go ahead in the early hours of Sunday morning, at which point the focus of Sinn Fein protests shifted to the Garvaghy Road.

On Sunday night, Michelle O’Neill called on protestors to stay on the road until midnight – saying that the parade had only been stopped because of the protestors’ actions.

On Monday morning, Timothy Gaston told media gathered at Stormont that Ms O’Neill’s position was not tenable.

“No parade, no Stormont. We cannot continue to have a first minister, new style first minister for all. We also have a first minister of no alternative.

“Well, she has a new definition. We have a first minister of lawlessness, and that is exactly what we're seeing in the streets of Northern Ireland.

“The Parades Commission has made a ruling. It's been upheld in the court. It's a lawful determination. And now it's time that, after 28 years, those 35 men in Portadown – who offer no threat, who pose no problems for the Garvaghy Road residents – should be allowed to return home.

“Half an hour would have let this pass yesterday, whereas Sinn Féin is using this and gaslighting nationalism for their election ends.

“No parade, no Stormont”, the TUV MLA for North Antrim said.