DUP’s tough talk on Sinn Féin exposes the bind Gavin Robinson’s party finds itself in

The Irish Times · Irlanda · Prensahace 16 horas

While the Drumcree parading dispute is still playing out in court, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has been determined to drag the row into Stormont as well. The party seized on the prospect that the decision by some Sinn Féin politicians to stand in peaceful solidarity with Garvaghy Road residents might be shown to mean they participated in a technically “unlawful” protest.

The DUP has argued this means Sinn Féin is unfit to hold office on the basis that it is untenable to have “lawmakers acting as law breakers”. Several Sinn Féin figures, including First Minister Michelle O’Neill, have attended police interviews recently in relation to the protest.

O’Neill continues to stand over her support for the residents, arguing her attendance was “always the right thing to do”. The stance is popular among nationalist voters and the party is relaxed about the outcome of the investigation.

However, the DUP is…

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The Irish Times · Irlandahace 2 horas

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