Michelle O’Neill has been placed under police investigation after participating in an anti-Orange Order parade.
The Northern Ireland First Minister has received a letter from police investigating alleged criminal offences in relation to her involvement in the protest on the Garvaghy Road, Sinn Féin has confirmed.
Sinn Féin party colleagues Conor Murphy, John O’Dowd and Gerry Kelly have also received contact from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
The PSNI said on Thursday that individuals “reasonably suspected of committing offences” would receive letters for interview.
It relates to alleged breaches of a Parades Commission decision to allow an Orange Order parade to complete its traditional route from Drumcree Church down the Garvaghy Road for the first time for almost 30 years.
The parade has been unable to take place because of significant numbers opposed to the decision attending protests on the Garvaghy Road.
A number of senior Sinn Féin figures visited the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road again on Friday.
Ms O’Neill and Ms McDonald said at the time that they had not received any police letters.
The First Minister said on Friday: “We fully expect to and we will engage with all of that because we’re very comfortable with the decision to stand with the residents of the Garvaghy Road.
“This is the difference between right and wrong.”
After receiving the police letter, Ms O’Neill said in a statement she will “co-operate with the investigation”.
She said: “For the last two weeks, I have stood in solidarity with the Garvaghy Road residents as attempts were made to force an unwanted Orange march through their community.
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“I will continue to stand with the Garvaghy Road residents who should be allowed to live in peace and free from sectarian intimidation.
“Because it is always right to stand up for what is right. And there can be no going back.”
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald had previously called on Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant to take action and bring the 13-day Drumcree stand-off to an end.
She said: “It has been our expectation, it was our wish from the get-go that the Secretary of State will intervene, and we’re calling on him again to do exactly that.
“And no further time should be wasted, we need to bring clarity, we need to bring finality.
“It needs to be clear that this Orange march is now definitively off the table, so that this community can breathe easy again and return to their normal lives.
“The very idea of leaving a vacuum like this is irresponsible, to say the least of it.
“The Secretary of State has to intervene, must intervene, and we urge him again at the earliest opportunity to do exactly that.”
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