Carla Lockhart, the DUP MP for Upper Bann, defended her presence at a Scarva counter-demonstration after photos showed her near masked men, saying she attended to help prevent tensions escalating. Around 1,500 pro-Palestine marchers walked from Lurgan to Newry along a canal towpath beside Scarva. Politicians from the SDLP, Sinn Féin and the Alliance criticised the images and called for firm condemnation of intimidation, while the PSNI said policing had been "appropriate and proportionate." The Parades Commission had authorised both the march and a counter-protest with conditions.
Carla Lockhart Defends Standing Near Masked Men At Scarva Counter-Protest — Says She Was Working To Prevent Violence
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart said she will not apologise for standing with her community [BBC]
Carla Lockhart, the DUP Member of Parliament for Upper Bann, has rejected criticism after photographs showed her standing close to masked men during a counter-demonstration in the village of Scarva.
What Happened
On Saturday morning about 1,500 pro-Palestine marchers set off along a canal towpath from Lurgan to Newry; the towpath runs alongside the County Down village of Scarva. The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign had organised a notified march and the Parades Commission authorised the march with conditions, along with a permitted counter-protest.
Lockhart's Response
In a social media statement on Sunday, Lockhart said she "will never apologise for standing with my community" and insisted she had been on the ground to prevent tensions from escalating. She said she and other unionist representatives and community leaders engaged with senior police officers, relayed local concerns, encouraged restraint and worked "to ensure calm heads prevailed." She added that the protests passed without serious incident "and that did not happen by accident."
"We were not there to inflame tensions. We were there to prevent them escalating," Lockhart wrote. "Leadership is not measured by the number of social media posts you publish after an event. It is measured by whether you are prepared to show up when tensions are high."
Political Reaction
Photographs from the event circulated widely on social media and drew cross-party condemnation. SDLP leader Claire Hanna called the images "bleak and disturbing," saying an MP surrounded by masked men was unacceptable. Sinn Féin's Chris Hazzard described the area as "a welcoming place" and urged Lockhart to focus on promoting what the constituency offers "rather than standing with masked men intimidating women & children."
Alliance deputy leader Eóin Tennyson said Upper Bann "deserved better leadership," adding that MPs should challenge intimidation and sectarianism rather than appear to condone it. Northern Ireland's Justice Minister Naomi Long accused Lockhart of "playing to a crowd" and urged her to "do better."
Lockhart also directly rebutted criticism from specific politicians, singling out Sorcha Eastwood and accusing critics of hypocrisy. She said abusive messages directed at her since the event had been "disgraceful" but would not silence her.
Policing And Permissions
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." The Parades Commission confirmed it had granted permission for the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign march with conditions and had authorised a counter-protest.
What Remains Unclear
Questions remain about how the event was policed on the towpath and the wider community impact of the images. Both supporters and critics emphasised the need to prevent intimidation while protecting the right to protest.
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