Tóibín PSNI interview postponed

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has postponed an interview with Aontú Leader, PeadarTóibín.

Deputy Tóibin was to have met with the PSNI in Belfast this (Friday) morning at 11am but it was postponed when the Meath West TD asked for the interview to be conducted in Irish.

He received a summons earlier this week from the PSNI who want to interview him under caution about his role at the Garvaghy Road protest in Portadown last month.

Mr Tóibín has said the interview is being rearranged for a later time when an Irish speaking interview team is available.

"The PSNI had requested that I attend an interview under caution today Friday to discuss my role at the Garvaghy Rd protest a number of weeks ago.

"I asked for the interview to be in Irish. I am a daily Irish speaker. I love the language. The only way that we can renew the Irish language is to speak it as much as possible."

He said the Irish language Act was introduced in 2022 in the north. "I and many others fought for that Act. It makes the Irish language an official language of the north and it gives the right of citizens to use the language in these cases.

"The Irish Language Act is not an ornament. It should be utilised. I am very happy to give the PSNI An opportunity to speak Irish too. The PSNI is not able to facilitate that interview today and they seek to rearrange the meeting soon with an Irish speaking interview team."

Deputy Tóibín said the interviewing of nationalist political leaders about the Garvaghy Road was a monumental waste of time.

"Who is interviewing the PSNI about their damaging decision to advise the Parades Commission that they could marshal the Orange march down the Garvaghy Road without difficulty. That decision was the most destabilising decision in the north of Ireland in 28 years, and no one has been held to account for it.

"Interviewing nationalist politicians under caution for opposing a march that was subsequently banned by the British Secretary of State, a decision later confirmed by the courts, is ridiculous. £3million has already been spent on this mess, is it really the best use of officer’s time to undertake these interviews?"

"A poll today in the Belfast Telegraph indicates that the vast majority of people in the north opposed the Orange march down the Garvaghy Rd. It also showed, interestingly, that only a minority of unionists supported the march. I’m proud to have stood for peace and with the people at this important time.

Members of Sinn Féin and People before Profit-Solidarity have already been interviewed.