Michelle O'Neill

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons speaking during a press conference at Stormont Castle in Belfast following a meeting of the Northern Ireland Executive in April (Liam McBurney/PA Wire)

DUP minister rejects claims ‘only one party’ is blocking Executive business

Alliance Party deputy leader Eoin Tennyson said the unionist party had “weaponised children” as part of a “culture war”.

Alliance Party accuses DUP of ‘gambling’ with Stormont institutions

MP Carla Lockhart, Jamie Bryson, and DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley outside Carleton Street Orange Hall in Portadown, back in September. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Jamie Bryson hints at Stormont election bid in fiercely contested constituency

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher speaks to reporters after a meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board in Belfast. Photo: David Young./PA

Boutcher challenges 'misinterpretation' of IRA remark in police log on Drumcree

Independent unionist Carla Lockhart has urged unionists to 'hold their head high' in their professional lives.

Carla Lockhart questions manner of DUP's call for unionist unity

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart quit the DUP this week to sit as an independent unionist. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Lockhart wants lawbreaking politicians turfed out of office under 12 month ban

Carla Lockhart has left open the possibility of running in May's Assembly election. Pic: Mark Marlow/PA Wire

Carla Lockhart doesn't rule out Assembly election run

DUP MP Carla Lockhart speaking during an Orange Order parade in Portadown, Co Armagh. Picture date: Saturday October 24, 2026.

Lockhart: Leaving DUP was a particularly painful and difficult decision

DUP leader Gavin Robinson (second from left), alongside Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly (left) and party colleagues deputy leader Michelle McIlveen MLA (third from left) and Trevor Clarke MLA (right), speak to the media during a press conference at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast, where he discussed the prospect of unionist unity following the Drumcree parading dispute. Picture date: Monday November 2, 2026. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Robinson insists party ‘fully behind’ his position on Drumcree dispute

Independent unionist MP Carla Lockhart has written an open letter to unionist voters.

Carla Lockhart says she wants to build a grassroots unionist movement

DUP MP Carla Lockhart speaking during a Drumcree event at Edgarstown Estate, Portadown, Co Armagh in September. Pic: Mark Marlow/PA Wire

Lockhart quits DUP over its refusal to remove O'Neill as First Minister

Jonathan Buckley MLA speaking to the media outside Carleton Street Orange Hall in Portadown, Co Armagh.

Unionism cannot afford a strategic own goal over Drumcree

DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley, during a press conference at Carleton Street Orange Hall in Portadown, Co Armagh, back in September. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

DUP's Jonathan Buckley in call for unionist unity over Drumcree

DUP MP Carla Lockhart speaking during an Orange Order parade in Portadown, Co Armagh. Pic: Mícheál Ó Scannáil/Press Association

Carla Lockhart expected to quit DUP early next week and sit as independent

Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly pictured protesting against the Legacy Act in central Belfast in 2024. He has now decided against retiring.

Gerry Kelly announces his will seek re-election after all

DUP MP Carla Lockhart leads an Orange Order parade in Portadown, Co Armagh. Picture date: Saturday October 24, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Mícheál Ó Scannáil/Press Association

Lockhart ready to quit the DUP as leader stops short of removing O'Neill
The DUP’s Upper Bann MP looks set to quit the party after its ruling body decided not to resign Emma Little Pengelly from office – and thereby remove Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill as First Minister.
David Thompson

Michelle O’Neill has claimed that Emma Little-Pengelly has “blocked” representation from the region at a major political event in Scotland

Michelle O’Neill: I’ve been ‘blocked’ from attending event by ‘DUP stunt’

DUP MLA Diane Forsythe (left) has backed colleague Carla Lockhart's call for Michelle O'Neill to be removed from office.

Forsythe backs call for O'Neill to go - and for DUP to block official events

Diane Forsythe has joined Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart in urging her party to withdraw deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly from the Stormont Executive

DUP MLA joins calls for removal of Michelle O’Neill as Stormont First Minister

DUP MP Carla Lockhart speaking during an Orange Order parade in Portadown. Pic: Mícheál Ó Scannáil/Press Association

MP quit DUP role on 'principle' - rejecting colleague's 'token gesture' comment

DUP MP Carla Lockhart has defended her decision to resign as a party officer amid a deepening row with the leadership over the future of Stormont.

After News Letter exclusive Carla Lockhart says ‘It’s about principle’

DUP leader Gavin Robinson said unionists should make their voices heard at the ballot box. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA

Unionists angry over Drumcree fallout but must think 'long term' – Robinson

Carla Lockhart satisfying hardliners by resigning party position - Wilson

Carla Lockhart outside Drumcree Parochial Hall in Portadown. She has resigned as a party officer amid a deepening row with the leadership over the future of Stormont.

Lockhart quits as DUP party officer amid rift with leader over Stormont’s future

Education Minister Paul Givan (left) and DUP leader Gavin Robinson speak to the media at Parliament Buildings in Stormont, Belfast, following a meeting with Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant. Picture: Rebecca Black/Press Association

DUP voices hope of funding gap ‘potentially closing’ to allow budget agreement

DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly claimed Sinn Fein First Minister Michelle O’Neill had rejected an invitation for the both of them to meet Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds alongside Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant.

SF and DUP at odds on budget meeting plan ahead of talks with NI Secretary

First Minister Michelle O'Neill hit out at the comments. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

'IRA lawyers' comment blasted as 'shameful' by NI First Minister
A reference to “IRA lawyers” has been blasted by Northern Ireland’s First Minister as “shameful”.
Rebecca Black, PA

Stormont opposition leader Matthew O'Toole

Stormont fight 'distraction from real scandal' of no pay rise before Xmas: SDLP

First Minister Michelle O'Neill today left a Stormont scrutiny committee early to travel to Musgrave Street police station in the centre of Belfast, where she was interviewed about her participation in an allegedly illegal demonstration that blocked the first permitted Drumcree Orange Order march in almost 30 years. Photo: Brian Lawless/Press Association

Stormont leaders' appearance before Assembly committee ends in acrimony

Sinn Féin's Pat Cullen, Michelle O'Neill and Deirdre Hargey.

Sinn Féin MP to stand for Stormont: Party bids for second South Belfast MLA seat

First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald hold a press conference before a rally on Garvaghy Road during last month's dispute. Picture: Tony Hendron

O’Neill and McDonald to be questioned by police over Garvaghy Road protest

Gerry Carroll

Gerry Carroll MLA interviewed by police over Garvaghy Road protest

Robinson calls for ‘full picture’ over Drumcree parade ban decision

Drumcree church. Picture: Press Eye

Bryant has ‘lost the confidence of vast numbers’ in NI, says DUP peer

Michelle O’Neill rejects that ‘there’s no more money’ for NI in budget row

Michelle O’Neill rejects that ‘there’s no more money’ for NI in budget row

Sir Chris Bryant has banned the Orange Order parade at Drumcree

Letter: Diary dates with O’Neill should be suspended

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said the A5 appeal needed to be dealt with before the three stalled projects could go ahead; she won that case a week ago. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA

Still no green light for £190m of major road projects stalled by A5 court case

Bank of America has recruited more than 300 people in Belfast, marking a significant step towards its commitment to create up to 1,000 jobs in the city

US financial giant reaches 300 hires in Belfast as it targets 1,000 jobs

NI Secretary in plea for MPs to ‘moderate language’

Hamill case ‘reminder’ of what sectarianism can bring, ex-NI Secretary

he Orange Order's challenge against the Secretary of State is being heard in the High Court The dispute returns to Belfast High Court Jamie Bryson speaks to the media.

Chief Constable’s advice on Drumcree parade to be scrutinised in legal challenge

A challenge to the decision to stop the Drumcree parade made by Chris Bryant returns to court today. Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson (centre), along with leading members of the Portadown District of the Orange Order, arrive at the High Court in Belfast for an earlier hearing.

Bryant’s decision to halt Drumcree parade to be challenged in court

Police pictured at Drumcree Church.

Bryant accused of ‘disgraceful appeasement’ by stopping Drumcree parade

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill attend a community event in support of the Garvaghy Road residents

First Minister expresses ‘relief’ at Bryant’s decision to stop parade

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald and First Minister Michelle O’Neill speak to the media alongside Sinn Féin representatives outside Drumcree Community Centre in Portadown on Friday afternoon, amid the continuing dispute over the proposed Orange Order parade along the Garvaghy Road.

Michelle O’Neill says she has not received police letter over Drumcree protest

Michelle O'Neill

O’Neill ‘spent more time blocking roads than giving evidence’

Breandan Mac Cionnaith (Brendan McKenna) of the Garvaghy Road Residents coalition and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill. The three main unionist parties in Northern Ireland have backed a motion of no confidence in First Minister Michelle O’Neill.

Three unionist parties back motion of no confidence in First Minister

First Minister Michelle O’Neill has said she has not thrown in the towel over hopes of further funding from the UK Government.

O’Neill ‘hasn’t thrown in the towel’ in the fight for a ‘fairer funding model’

Carla Lockhart from the DUP outside Drumcree Parochial Hall in Portadown

DUP ‘will not abdicate responsibilities’ amid Drumcree dispute

Breandan Mac Cionnaith (Brendan McKenna) (second left) of the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition arrives with others at Laganside Courts in Belfast

Parades Commission ‘reached irrational conclusion’ in permitting Drumcree march

Carla Lockhart of the DUP arrives with with Orange Order legal representative and loyalist spokesperson Jamie Bryson (far right), at Laganside Courts in Belfast, where the Garvaghy Road residents have launched a legal bid to overturn a determination which permits the Orange Order to walk down the mainly nationalist street in Portadown.

Court of Appeal hears fresh bid to stop Orange Order parade

First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald meet with locals on the Garvaghy Road.

DUP challenged to ensure consequences for ‘First Minister of lawlessness’

(Centre left to right) Mo Chara (Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh), DJ Próvaí (J. J. Ó Dochartaigh) and Móglaí Bap (Naoise Ó Cairealláin) from the band Kneecap at the community centre in Portadown

Kneecap visit Portadown to support Garvaghy Road residents

The comments by MLA Trevor Clarke were widely criticised, but he today stood over them.

DUP MLA defends 'small boats' post over Garvaghy Road stand-off

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill attend a community event in support of the Garvaghy Road residents on Saturday

Sinn Féin will ‘of course’ co-operate with any PSNI probe into Garvaghy Road

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