The Northern Ireland Assembly descended into acrimony on Tuesday as unionist MLAs accused First Minister Michelle O'Neill of breaking the law by participating in a protest on the Garvaghy Road, while Sinn Féin defended her actions and accused the DUP of inflaming tensions. The row overshadowed all other business, including a routine order extending water subsidies for five years.

The controversy stems from Sunday's protest in Portadown, where hundreds gathered to oppose an Orange Order march along the Garvaghy Road. O'Neill attended and later faced calls to answer questions in the Assembly. Initially scheduled for an urgent oral question, she postponed her appearance until Monday, citing an unavoidable engagement, a decision that drew anger from unionists.

DUP MLA Diane Forsythe said O'Neill was "on the run" from scrutiny and had treated the House with contempt. "She has given two fingers to law and order," Forsythe said. "It is time for Michelle O'Neill to face up to reality." The deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly, said she had made clear to O'Neill that she should be in the Chamber. "I will not stop Michelle O'Neill coming to the House," she said. "She should be here."

Sinn Féin's Deirdre Hargey defended the First Minister, saying she was not afraid of her critics and was working to de-escalate the situation. "While some try to use the House to inflame the situation, Michelle O'Neill is trying to de-escalate it," Hargey said. Other Sinn Féin members used Members' Statements to attack unionist leadership and defend the Garvaghy Road residents.

Amid the heated exchanges, there was some attempt to focus on the underlying issues. The SDLP's Matthew O'Toole warned against collapsing the Executive. "Nobody in the Chamber should be thinking about collapsing government, because that would lead to a darker future," he said. He noted the Assembly was nearly six months into the financial year without a Budget.

Earlier, the Assembly approved the Grants to Water and Sewerage Undertakers Order (Northern Ireland) 2027, extending for five years the power of the Department for Infrastructure to pay a subsidy to NI Water in lieu of domestic water charges. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said the order would protect households from additional costs during the cost-of-living crisis.

During Question Time, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons faced questions on a range of issues, but repeatedly returned to the Garvaghy Road controversy. He accused Sinn Féin of blocking several Executive papers, including on homelessness, social housing funding, and fraud and error legislation. "The First Minister is not above the law," he said. "She should be coming to the House to answer questions."

The sitting ended with bitter points of order, with some MLAs questioning whether the Assembly was being brought into disrepute. The Speaker confirmed O'Neill would take the urgent oral question on Monday, and advised members to lower the temperature.