Northern Ireland

Anti-Protocol rally to be held in Markethill on Friday

Around a thousand people took part in an anti-protocol march through the Donegall Road area of south Belfast in July last year. Picture by Alan Lewis, Photopress
Around a thousand people took part in an anti-protocol march through the Donegall Road area of south Belfast in July last year. Picture by Alan Lewis, Photopress Around a thousand people took part in an anti-protocol march through the Donegall Road area of south Belfast in July last year. Picture by Alan Lewis, Photopress

THE latest anti-Northern Ireland Protocol rally will be held in Co Armagh on Friday night.

The protest will take place in Markethill at 7pm.

The rally's organisers said "all loyalists, unionists, loyal orders and bands are encouraged to attend".

Over the last year, loyalists have held protests against the Protocol, which they view as weakening Northern Ireland's ties with Britain.

Negotiated as part of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU, the protocol effectively created a customs border in the Irish Sea.

An anti-protocol protest, organised by the Orange Order, was held in Dromore, Co Down, last week.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, UUP MLA Robbie Butler, TUV leader Jim Allister, Baroness Kate Hoey and former MEP Ben Habib attended the rally.

Mr Butler, an MLA for Lagan Valley, defended his attendance and said his party was interested in "engagement and dialogue".