PSNI puts 30 officers to work reviewing Drumcree recorded material with 60 'identified suspects'

Thousands of people from across Ireland and beyond stood in peaceful solidarity with the residents of Garvaghy Road following a shock Parades Commission determination to allow an Orange Order march to walk through the largely nationalist, Catholic community for the first time in almost 30 years.

The controversial parade, which was at the centre of significant disorder and violence throughout the North in the 1990s, has not taken place in 28 years.

The march was later halted by Secretary of State Chris Bryant – a decision which the Orange Order have been challenging.

Several senior politicians in the north who have shown solidarity to the residents have been among those who received letters to be interviewed by the PSNI.

Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck said on Friday that the investigative work to build evidential cases relating to those involved in the Drumcree and Garvaghy Road protest is continuing.

“A team of 30 officers, led by an experienced Senior Investigating Officer, are methodically working through over 70 hours of recorded material and have now built evidential packages in respect of 60 identified suspects.

"Currently 18 of these suspects have been interviewed, and case files are now being prepared before being submitted to the Public Prosecution Service for prosecutorial decisions, in line with normal process."

“The investigation,” he added, “will continue in the coming weeks in line with the Criminal Justice Strategy put in place for this operation."

“As this is a live investigation, which is likely to be long-running, we won’t be making any further comment at this time.”