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A Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Member of Parliament has dismissed the backlash she faced after being seen standing near masked individuals during an event in Scarva. The incident occurred during a pro-Palestine demonstration where approximately 1,500 participants marched along a canal towpath stretching from Lurgan to Newry, passing by the County Down village.
Following the release of photographs capturing the MP next to men wearing masks, politicians across several parties voiced their condemnation. In response, Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart stated on social media that she would “never apologise for standing with my community.” She emphasized her presence was aimed at preventing tensions from escalating, highlighting that the protests concluded without serious incidents, which she insisted was no coincidence.
Lockhart detailed that she was in Scarva in the company of other unionist representatives and community leaders throughout the day. She described their role as engaging with senior police officers, communicating concerns, promoting restraint, and maintaining calm. “We were not there to inflame tensions. We were there to prevent them escalating,” she stated. Lockhart further asserted that those who were not physically present during the event should not attempt to rewrite what happened or criticize those managing the situation firsthand.
The images sparked sharp criticism from other political figures. The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Claire Hanna called the scene “bleak and disturbing,” condemning the presence of masked men near an MP and labeling the failure of political leaders to oppose bullying and intimidation as harmful to society. Sinn Féin’s local MP for South Down, Chris Hazzard, insisted the area is known for its natural beauty and not for “masked intimidation.” He challenged Lockhart to focus on the positive attributes of the constituency instead of standing alongside figures intimidating residents, including women and children. Additional critiques came from Alliance party deputy leader Eóin Tennyson and Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister Naomi Long, who accused Lockhart of encouraging intimidation and urged her to improve her conduct.
Lockhart also addressed these criticisms directly, calling comments from some MPs hypocritical and unfair. She pointed to Alliance’s Sorcha Eastwood’s quick condemnation and noted the irony in Hazzard’s stance, referencing the controversial naming of his office. She condemned the abuse she had received since the event but remained resolute in her commitment to represent her community. Meanwhile, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed that a “proportionate policing operation” was carried out to safeguard public safety during the march and counter-protest, both of which were approved by the Parades Commission under specific conditions
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