Great March for Gaza from Lurgan to Newry gets Parades Commission green light as does counter protest by Scarva Concerned Residents

The event is due to take place on Saturday June 6 with a counter demonstration by the Scarva Concerned Residents also given permission to take place.

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A huge police operation is expected as the Gaza charity walk participants traverse through Scarva with a counter demonstrations taking place near the Scarva Bridge.

Markethill Volunteers Flute Band Charity Walk which was due to take leave Scarva at 9.30am that morning has been banned from taking place until 2.30pm that afternoon.

In their notification to the Parades Commission, the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) said this was a ‘sponsored charity walk’ from Lurgan to Newry.

"The walk will be 25 miles long, the length of the Gaza strip, and will raise money for medical supplies, temporary shelters and much needed food and water for the people living amidst the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza presently.

"We have taken much care and deliberation with the route, trying to avoid any areas which would not like to have a procession passing through them. As such we are mostly travelling by country roads until we reach the Newry Canal towpath at Moneypenny Bridge, from there we will walk the towpath to Newry and disperse at the end of the towpath.

"For the safety of our participants we would ask that the police facilitate closing the roads on the route we intend to walk. We are setting off early on the Saturday morning in the hope that we can cause as little disruption as possible."

The notified route is Market Street, Lurgan; Edward Street, Lurgan; Portadown Road, Lurgan; Old Portadown Road, Lurgan; Tullygally East Road, Lurgan; Monbrief East Road, Craigavon; Sugar Island Road, Craigavon; Bleary Road, Craigavon; Knock Road, Craigavon; Drumnacanvy Road, Mullahead Road, Join the Newry Canal Towpath, Proceed down Towpath until Newry, Canal Quay, Newry; Sugar Island, Bank Parade, Newry Town Hall."

The number of notified participants is 1,500 with no supporters or bands.

The Parades Commission received representations of support for the charity walk as well as a ‘significant number’ of representations from elected representatives and individuals, including residents of Scarva, opposing the parade passing near the village.

However permission for the parade was given with conditions attached including that no one joins the charity walk as it passes through Scarva. Also that no flags or emblems of any type shall be displayed and no chanting or signing shall take place.

It was noted by the Parades Commission the counter protest was organised to ‘express community concern’ at the charity walk and that Scarva is a ‘predominantly Unionist village’.

Concerns raised were that participants of the charity walk move through parts of the village and use amplified sound which may heighten tensions in the area.

“The organisers (of the Scarva Concerned Residents) are committed to ensuring that this protest remains peaceful, lawful, and properly stewarded at all times,” the Commission noted.

The 100 person strong protest was marked for Scarva Bridge between 10am and 5pm.

The Commission said: “In light of the events associated with an unnotified protest which took place in relation to the same parade last year, the Commission has cause to believe that, should the protest take place without conditions, there may be an adverse impact on relationships within the community and a potential for adverse impact on public safety and for potential public disorder.”

Six conditions have been outlined in relation to the Scarva counter protest including behaving with due regard to the rights, traditions and feelings of others in the vicinity including refraining from sectarian, provocative, threatening, abusive, insulting or lewd behaviour.

The Commission also said alcohol should not be consumed immediately prior to, or during a parade-related protest meeting with stewards taking necessary measures to remove those under the influence.

They are also to comply with police directions and in accordance with legislation.

Concerning the Markethill Volunteers Flute Band - Sponsored Walk Scarva to Portadown the Commission noted the outward parade is notified to assemble at Scarva Bridge and depart at 09.30am. The return parade is notified to depart from Tesco Portadown at 1:00pm and disperse from Scarva Bridge at 4:30pm.

The Commission received representations from a number of people including the police, who expressed concerns related to public safety, due to the narrowness of the Newry Canal Towpath and the physical impossibility for two parades to pass each other in opposite directions along it.

The parade was not notified 28 days in advance while the other parade had.

The Commission determined 8 conditions on the organisers and participants of the Markethill Volunteers Flute Band including that the parade shall not commence its outward route until 2.30pm on 6th June 2026. The outward route had been planned by the organisers for 10am.

The parade organiser shall ensure that all stewards and participants obey any direction given by the police in relation to this parade

When the parade is in progress, there shall be no undue stoppages or delays.

"All participants in this parade must behave with due regard for the rights, traditions and feelings of others in the vicinity; refrain from using words or behaviour which could reasonably be perceived as intentionally sectarian, provocative, threatening, abusive, insulting or lewd; obey the lawful directions of parade organisers and any marshals at all times from assembly to dispersal and comply with police directions and in accordance with legislation,” ruled the Parades Commission.