The images from Garvaghy Road are thoroughly depressing. It is near impossible not to look at the footage and not be taken back to the 1990’s and all that played out in and around that small community. That they are having to go through this in 2026 (and for many families relive the darkest period of their lives) is a disgrace. There is plenty blame to go around. The Orange Order, the British courts, the PSNI, failing political institutions, and the complete absence of anything resembling a process of reconciliation, and the list goes on.
All of this underlines the need for a clear and credible mechanism to allow the people of Ireland, all of the people of Ireland, to determine their own future democratically and peacefully without outside interference or impediment. After this weekend, does anyone have confidence in an arrangement that allows the British Secretary of State alone to decide when, and if, to call a Border Poll? Or that British courts won’t interfere with the result? Or that the politicians and political institutions in the North are even capable of delivering an orderly transition to a reunified Ireland? What is required is what has always been required, an all-Ireland process facilitating constitutional change. For that to work, it would have to be inclusive and respectful. Has this weekend helped that? Of course, all of these questions are for the people of Ireland. But there are questions for those of us in Scotland too.
Firstly, do Scotland’s politicians support the deployment of 200 Police Scotland officers to assist the PSNI in their stated aim of forcing through a supremacist parade (that is what it is) against the wishes of the local community? In particular, given SNP leader John Swinney’s recent participation in a joint initiative with Nationalists in Ireland and Wales, does the First Minister support deploying Scottish police into Ireland? Where they could be asked to participate in an operation to clear the road and arrest the First Minister, his new comrade, Michelle O’Neill. Does his Justice Secretary support the deployment? Was he involved at all in the decision-making process? Do opposition parties support this? And how do they think this deployment is experienced by the Irish community in Scotland?
None can hide behind the excuse it is not a matter for them. They are quick to tell us their views of Donald Trump, Gaza, Dover and everything else. So do they support Scottish police being sent to Ireland to do the dirty work of the Orange Order? They also cannot say this is an operational matter solely for the police. This is not a standard pooling and sharing of resources. This is a political decision. Given the history of this parade (not to mention the history of Scottish soldiers in Ireland), we deserve to know if our elected representatives in Scotland support this. Also, what do the trade unions make of it? They represent police support staff who work every day with the officers now deployed in Ireland and those making the decision to deploy them. So do the unions and their members support this facilitation of a sectarian parade in Ireland by Scottish police officers?
In 1999 the James Connolly Society held a protest at the opening of the Scottish Parliament which was jointly organised with Edinburgh Friends of Garvaghy Road. At the time, we issued a statement that said, “As long as the siege of the Garvaghy Road continues, there will be protests here in Edinburgh in support of the residents.” None of us, and nobody in their right mind, wants to go back to that period. Two months after our protest, I wrote to the then Justice Secretary, Jim Wallace, urging him to adopt the recommendation of the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland, chaired by Chris Patten. The Report made it clear that while the context was specific to Ireland the recommendations were looking at policing for the 21st century. My view was this was a baseline from which communities, particularly minorities and working-class areas, could engage in good faith. The Scottish Government (at that time called Scottish Executive) refused. Ever since policing in Scotland has lurched from one scandal to another. All underpinned by secrecy and arrogance.
This latest decision to deploy Met of the North officers to Ireland to attempt to force an Orange parade through Garvaghy Road should precipitate a wider discussion about policing in Scotland. We need transparency and accountability in policing. We have neither in Scotland. After more than a quarter of a century, are the Scottish Parliament’s politicians capable of addressing this issue? Or will it remain on their long list of Holyrood failures?
