DUP's Diane Forsythe backs MP's call for Michelle O'Neill to be 'removed from office' - and for Emma Little Pengelly to block official engagements

Diane Forsythe joined calls from Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart for their party to remove the Sinn Féin politician over her attendance at an unnotified protest on the Garvaghy Road during the Drumcree dispute.

Ms O’Neill and other party colleagues are being investigated by police over the matter, and have said their actions were to “protect 28 years of peace and progress”.

However, some unionists want political sanctions for those who took part in the protest which blocked the route of the legal Orange Order parade, which was subsequently banned by the government.

Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant said the PSNI chief constable advised him it couldn’t go ahead “without a major intervention which would carry an unacceptable risk of serious injury, disorder and a wider contagion effect across Northern Ireland”.

Jon Boutcher also raised concerns about “trust and confidence in policing” – as well as over the future of “the Northern Ireland Executive and the peace process”.

DUP MP Carla Lockhart resigned from the party’s officer board over the matter, demanding a much harder line be taken by leader Gavin Robinson, including resigning the deputy first minister, and by extension Michelle O’Neill.

That call has now been echoed by Diane Forsythe, the first of the party’s MLA team to call for such a move. While backing the future of local devolved government, the South Down MLA said it is her view that the first minister should be removed from office.

She said that at a “bare minimum” official engagements by Ms O’Neill as first minister should be stopped – something the DUP can do through the joint office by vetoing them.

In a statement, Ms Forsythe said: “On Saturday night I proudly paraded with my Lodge in support of Portadown District LOL No 1 and their legal right, upheld by the courts. I was also pleased to show my support to the local MP, Carla Lockhart

“The overwhelming majority of Unionist people believe Michelle O’Neill should not be First Minister of Northern Ireland. The anger felt towards her across Northern Ireland is immense and I strongly share in that anger.

“No one is above the law because of their politics or position, and justice must not only be done, but be seen to be done.

“The series of posts from Sinn Fein representatives that she is going nowhere are full of arrogance and defiance, and have infuriated my Constituents further. I believe as elected representatives we should be clear where we stand. There have been committments made to deliver profound consequences and that it cannot be business as usual. These must be honoured.

“It is my view that Michelle O’Neill should be removed from office. The Assembly and other Ministerial Offices would continue until the next election.

“In my view the vast majority of our community want to see devolved Government work. They want to see the Assembly operating, and Ministers running their departments. Those who break the law should be punished, not those who respect it.

“I believe that in the absence of the type of meaningful action set out above, at the bare minimum official engagements as First Minister through The Executive Office should be stopped immediately. We have seen Michelle O’Neill travel to summits focussed on breaking up the United Kingdom and claim it was in Ministerial capacity. These engagements can be blocked and should be.

“The Chief Constable and Secretary of State also have serious questions to answer on their actions and should be held accountable”.