Unionist MP summonsed because of loyalist blockade

AN ULSTER Unionist Party MP has been summonsed to appear in court over his involvement in the loyalist blockade of Larne port, which was triggered by the Drumcree stand off.

Mr Roy Beggs, MP for East Antrim, is one of 21 people to be prosecuted for allegedly breaching public order laws on or around last July 10th in Larne.

The blockade is reputed to have cost industry in the North hundreds of thousands of pounds in lost orders.

Mr Beggs, who is due to appear in Larne court on February 16th, while admitting his involvement in the blockade said the protest he led was peaceful.

He told reporters he had been summonsed for sitting down on the road, blocking traffic, obstructing a police constable and inciting others to block the road.

The protest was staged in support of Orangemen who were engaged in a tense stand off with police in Drumcree, near Portadown, Co Armagh, after they were prevented from marching down the nationalist Garvaghy Road.

Mr Beggs conceded there had been clashes with police and property had been damaged during the Larne demonstrations, but the protest he led in Millbrook, on the outskirts of the town, was peaceful.

"A peaceful protest was made. No property was damaged, there was no confrontation with the security forces, and one will have to attend court in response to these summonses," he said.

There were about 400 people in Millbrook, and there was not a single incident of aggravation, he claimed.

"I was annoyed that a number of others who had arranged their own protests did create vandalism and I would support any charges against them."

Mr Beggs complained that peaceful demonstrations in unionist areas were being "subject to the full rigours of the law", while republicans, who caused massive damage during the protest after Private Lee Clegg was released around the same time, are appearing to be unchallenged

The Larne blockade, which lasted for about 24 hours, caused massive disruption, stranding passengers and resulting in lost orders and some export foods such as mushrooms perishing.