UNIONIST claims that firearms and explosives were present on the Garvaghy Road during the recent stand-off between residents and the Orange Order have been branded “sensationalist and dangerous” by residents. Last Friday evening the Secretary of State banned the Orange Order parade down the Garvaghy Road after a two-week protest by residents and their supporters. Last night on the Nolan Show on BBCNI DUP leader Gavin Robinson repeated claims that that decision was based on the threat of “violence, disorder and terror” adding that he has raised publicly “rumours” that “there were guns available on the streets”. In a statement this afternoon Breandán Mac Cionnaith from the Garvaghy Road Residents’ Coalition said that "such sensationalist and dangerous claims are completely false", adding that they were "totally unfounded and are designed with the sole purpose of creating and heightening tensions, suspicions and fear."
