‘Bloodbath’ averted at Scarva protest, says DUP MP

Ms Lockhart said police “came in very heavy” and she and other reps had to intervene

A “bloodbath” was averted in the Co Down village of Scarva amid a pro-Palestine march and counter protest, a DUP MP has said.

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart made the comment as she continues to face criticism over her actions, and is accused of being “front and centre of a hostile, masked mob”.

Ms Lockhart said this was “utter rubbish” and that she was in Scarva with other unionist elected representatives to de-escalate tensions.

Speaking at Stormont on Monday, DUP leader Gavin Robinson said it was “entirely appropriate” that Ms Lockhart, along with MLAs Jonathan Buckley and Diane Forsythe, were there.

“I am pleased that they were prepared to be with the community, engage with the community, engage with the PSNI and ensure that a difficult situation didn’t spiral out of control,” he said.

“It had that potential.”

He also accused police of “impeding” the permitted counter-protest by blocking off Scarva bridge, adding “that caused difficulty”.

Police have said their policing operation was “appropriate and proportionate”.

Mr Robinson also said that police “have a job of work to do” in terms of reviewing the evidence they gathered from Scarva, in terms of whether Parades Commission conditions were broken.

“Police have told my colleagues that they will be pursuing those issues and prosecutions,” he added.

Hundreds turned out in Scarva on Saturday in opposition to the Great March for Gaza, organised by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), which was due to pass by on the Newry towpath en route from Lurgan to Newry.

There was a heavy police presence which focused on enforcing Parades Commission conditions of keeping those from the march from entering Scarva, and blocked off several bridges in the village.

Police resources made available included water cannons and armoured Land Rovers, as well as Tactical Support Group officers.

Ms Lockhart criticised the police presence, saying it caused disruption to local residents, did not reduce anxiety and tensions and blocked off Scarva Bridge where the counter demonstration had been planned to take place.

A large number of protesters instead staged a demonstration further up the village close to a new housing development, and just across a narrow canal from the march.

March organisers have contended they were faced with “slurs hurled from an un-notified counter protest in a field outside Scarva”.

During events, Ms Lockhart was photographed standing near masked individuals in Scarva as the march passed by.

Ms Lockhart told the BBC she was on the ground, along with other unionist elected representatives, “seeking to de-escalate, keep the peace in what was a very volatile situation”.

She said police had “blocked” the bridge which had been the designated area for the counter protest, which she said “immediately made a bad situation worse”.

Protesters then made their way to the housing development further along the canal.

Ms Lockhart said police “came in very heavy”, and she, along with colleagues, “had to intervene, had to de-escalate, had to negotiate with the police, encourage the community and were able to keep what could have been an absolute bloodbath very quiet, peaceful, and ultimately no incidents”.

Sinn Fein South Down MP Chris Hazzard said from video footage and photographs of events in Scarva, people “can see very clearly the actions of Carla on the day – a public representative front and centre of masked men in 2026”.

He said crowds could be heard “intimidating, shouting vile, racist, sectarian abuse at families who were walking to raise awareness of genocide, and to raise funds for children that were dying in Gaza”.

“People can see those events very, very clearly… a public representative who decided to stand and facilitate and to embolden those people that were standing beside her doing that,” he said.

“I think the public were rightly disgusted at the images that came from Scarva on Saturday, and they’re completely unacceptable.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter .