DUP leader defends MP who attended Palestine solidarity counter-demonstration

MP 'stood with the community' says DUP leader after Lockhart comes under fire 40 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Brendan Harkin Carla Lockhart attended a counter-demonstration in Scarva against a Palestine solidarity walk It was "entirely appropriate" for Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politicians to be at a counter-demonstration against a Palestine solidarity walk, the party leader has said. Gavin Robinson praised MP Carla Lockhart after she was pictured at a protest standing beside masked men. He also accused the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) of "blocking the ability of people to peacefully protest". Lockhart has rejected criticism after the pictures emerged on social media, saying she and 10 other politicians were there " to de-escalate" a "very volatile situation". It comes after Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard, who is the MP for the area, said Lockhart acted as a "political shield for thugs". Gavin Robinson said: "I don't believe anyone should be masked up" The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said: "An appropriate and proportionate policing operation was implemented to maintain public safety during a notified parade and protest." What did the march organisers say? The organisers of Saturday's march said it was "peaceful, dignified and disciplined throughout". The Great March for Gaza was organised by Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign. About 1,500 pro-Palestine marchers walked along a canal towpath from Lurgan to Newry on Saturday morning. Organisers said a counter-protest in Scarva, County Down, was "racist, xenophobic, sectarian". "Our march was blocked and delayed for over 45 minutes while counter protesters shouted abuse at participants," a statement said. Organisers said marchers were also "forced to proceed through slurry spread on the road, creating an unnecessary hazard and a degrading experience for peaceful participants". They said that it is "regrettable that some political representatives appear more interested in manufacturing a narrative of victimhood than acknowledging the conduct witnessed on the ground". Brendan Harkin Gavin Robinson said Lockhart and other DUP politicians had ensured a difficult situation "didn't spiral out of control" Speaking to the media on Monday, Robinson accused the PSNI of "frustrating" the decision of the Parades Commission and said his colleagues had ensured a "difficult situation didn't spiral out of control". He criticised "pearl clutching and hypocrisy from people who should know better". Addressing concerns that journalists had been subject to intimidation he said he condemned "violence and intimidation" and said no-one should be "masked up". Séamus Dooley, assistant general secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), said the union was "concerned to learn of intimidatory behaviour towards members of the media" covering the protest in Scarva. "This was a significant public event and journalists have a right to report without intimidation." Robins