THE First Minister Michelle O'Neill has called on the Irish and British governments to intervene over attempts by the Orange Order to march down the Garvaghy Road.

Speaking this morning in Portadown as thousands of people blocked the stretch of road, the Sinn Féin deputy leader said she had spoken to the British government, Irish government and the Chief Constable overnight.

This morning there was traffic disruption in Belfast as protestors came on to the streets in several locations in support of the Garvaghy Road residents, with traffic stopped on the Westlink and York Street.

Yesterday the High Court in Belfast issued a temporary injunction to stop the Orange Order from marching down the Garvaghy Road on Sunday morning following Friday's Parades Commission decision. But after lengthy legal proceedings that decision was overturned.

This morning residents prevented the march – which was due to begin at 8am – being forced through their area.

Speaking this morning Ms O'Neill said: "Why after 28 years of determination to block a march down this road that the Parades Commission thought this was the right idea today  to bring this mess back on to this community. I commend this community. We stand with this community and we will continue to stand with this community."

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said: "There must be no march through this community. That is the bottom line, that is how we restore calm, that is how we restore confidence and that is how we continue on our pathway to change and to better communities and to a better society for everyone.

"This madness can’t be repeated. This is primitive stuff in the year 2026."

SDLP leader Claire Hanna and West Belfast MLA Gerry Carroll from People Before Profit have also arrived to support local residents.