DUP threatens to block Sinn Féin business at Stormont as row over Garvaghy Road intensifies

Thursday 29 October 2026

The Democratic Unionist Party has announced plans to obstruct elements of Sinn Féin's business at Stormont and suspend joint activities between Northern Ireland's two most senior ministers, warning that the power-sharing institutions cannot continue as normal following the controversy surrounding the Garvaghy Road in Portadown.

In a strongly worded statement, the DUP accused First Minister Michelle O'Neill and her Sinn Féin colleagues of undermining confidence in the rule of law and demanded new legislation to hold political parties accountable for alleged wrongdoing.

The party confirmed it intends to use the Assembly's Petition of Concern mechanism to target elements of Sinn Féin business when MLAs return next week, while joint engagements between the First Minister and deputy First Minister have already ceased.

However, the DUP stopped short of withdrawing from the Executive, arguing that bringing down Stormont would ultimately hand decision-making powers back to the UK Government.

DUP outlines measures targeting Sinn Féin

The party said its officers had agreed a series of actions designed to put pressure on Sinn Féin and the Government without immediately collapsing Northern Ireland's devolved institutions.

It confirmed that joint engagements and activities involving the First Minister and deputy First Minister within The Executive Office had already stopped.

The statement said:

“When the Assembly reconvenes next week, we will use the mechanisms at our disposal to thwart the Sinn Fein agenda.”

It added:

“This will include the targeted deploying of the Petition of Concern against elements of Sinn Fein business.”

The Petition of Concern is an Assembly procedure that can require certain decisions to secure cross-community support rather than a simple majority. Its use is subject to rules and thresholds, meaning it cannot automatically block any proposal the DUP opposes.

The DUP also warned that it would not agree to activities that allowed Sinn Féin to move beyond the controversy without addressing its demands.

Michelle O’Neill hits back at DUP over Stormont measures

First Minister Michelle O’Neill has accused DUP leader Gavin Robinson of making “arrogant and supremacist” comments after his party announced measures targeting Sinn Féin at Stormont.

Responding to the DUP's statement, the Sinn Féin vice-president accused the party of being consumed by internal divisions and insisted that she and her ministerial colleagues would continue their work at the Assembly on Monday.

Ms O’Neill said:

“The comments of DUP leader Gavin Robinson today were arrogant and supremacist.

“The DUP is consumed with their own internal leadership troubles and divisions. They are in turmoil.

“The days of domination and supremacy are over.

“The days of treating people like second class citizens are over.

“There will be no going back.

“Not now, and not ever.”

Rejecting any suggestion that Sinn Féin would be deterred from carrying out its responsibilities, the First Minister added:

“I, as First Minister, will be at the Assembly on Monday morning, along with Sinn Féin’s Ministers, to continue our work.

“We will keep showing up every day for people.”

Her response follows the DUP's confirmation that joint engagements between the First Minister and deputy First Minister have ceased, alongside plans to use the Petition of Concern mechanism against elements of Sinn Féin business.

The exchanges underline the deepening disagreement between Stormont's two largest parties, with the DUP demanding new accountability measures while Sinn Féin insists its ministers will continue their duties.

Garvaghy Road dispute raises questions over policing

The political confrontation follows controversy surrounding the policing of a notified procession associated with the Garvaghy Road in Portadown on 27 September.

The DUP has accused Sinn Féin representatives and others involved in blocking the road of deliberately defying the police, the courts and the rule of law. Those accusations are the party's position and do not, in themselves, establish that individuals committed criminal offences.

The party is demanding that the Chief Constable explain the threats of violence considered by police and publish greater detail about the security assessments informing operational decisions.

It also wants clarity about threats allegedly posed by dissident republicans and individuals it describes as being associated with the Provisional IRA.

The DUP said: “No person can be immune from prosecution because of their politics or position.”

It maintained that the outcome of the police investigation would be central to restoring public confidence, insisting that justice must both be done and be seen to be done.

New sanctions demanded for political parties

A central demand is for Westminster to introduce a new mechanism allowing political parties to face meaningful sanctions without being able to determine whether those sanctions should apply to themselves.

The DUP argues that existing accountability arrangements are inadequate and that the Garvaghy Road controversy has exposed a serious gap in the system.

The statement said: “A new mechanism must be put in place that doesn’t let a party decide whether or not it should be sanctioned. No person can be the accused and the judge at the same time.”

The party welcomed what it described as initial indications from the Secretary of State that he was prepared to consider changing legislation at Westminster.

It also called for a fresh Government security assessment of dissident republican activity and the status and activities of the Provisional IRA.

The DUP wants the UK Government to convene time-limited discussions involving political parties to address the dispute and rebuild confidence in the institutions.

Party rules out immediate collapse of Stormont

Despite its criticism of Sinn Féin, the DUP acknowledged the consequences of withdrawing from the Executive and indicated that it would pursue other measures first.

Under Northern Ireland's power-sharing arrangements, the First Minister and deputy First Minister hold a joint office, with neither able to exercise its functions independently.

The DUP argued that resignation by the deputy First Minister would effectively bring down the Executive and could ultimately lead to the collapse of the Assembly, requiring intervention by the UK Government.

It said:

“But fair and functioning local government arrangements are better than handing all powers back to the Labour Government and those who influence them.”

The party nevertheless warned that further measures remained available if its demands were not met.

It added:

“It is clear that without substantial actions to remedy the sanctions gap, and a clear determination by the Police and the PPS to hold law breakers to account, that Stormont cannot continue as normal.”

Unionist unity urged ahead of next year's elections

The statement also appealed for greater cooperation between unionist parties, calling on representatives to set aside personal disagreements and focus on shared political objectives.

The DUP said it wanted to see as many unionist MLAs and councillors elected as possible next year, presenting its approach as an attempt to protect both the Union and the future of devolved government.

It accused Sinn Féin of seeking to undermine Northern Ireland and argued that unionists should unite around the principle of equal treatment under the law.

The party concluded:

“We will not allow the so-called ‘First Minister for all’ to walk away from accountability.”

The immediate test will come when the Assembly returns next week, with attention turning to which Sinn Féin proposals the DUP seeks to challenge and whether the UK Government responds to its demands for new sanctions.

For now, the DUP is attempting to increase political pressure while keeping Stormont operating, but its warning that further measures remain available leaves the future stability of power-sharing uncertain.