Northern Ireland Protocol: Hundreds of people attend protest in Glengormley

Ahead of the parade, which commenced in the Queens Park area, organisers posted on social media that it was being staged “against the Northern Ireland Protocol and two-tiered policing”.

Video footage posted on Twitter shows hundreds of demonstrators on the Ballyclare Road.

Police were in attendance and say they will now review footage from the event.

In a statement, North Area Commander Chief Superintendent Davy Beck said: “Police were in attendance at an un-notified parade that took place in the Queen’s Park area of Newtownabbey last night (June 3).

“Traffic diversions were in place for a period, and there were no reports of any related anti-social behaviour.

“Organisers of parades are required to give formal notification of their intentions. A number of warnings was given to participants last night and an evidence-gathering operation was in place.

“We will now review all the footage gathered and consider any suspected offences under the Public Processions (NI) Act 1998 or breaches of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021.”

The demonstration followed previous protests across unionist areas of the province over the Irish Sea customs border following Brexit and the perceived failure to prosecute participants in the funeral of senior republican Bobby Storey for potential breaches of Covid regulations.

A similar event was staged in Glengormley in April. For more on this, read here

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