McDonald and O'Neill attend PSNI interview over protest

Sinn Féin leaders Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill have been interviewed by police officers investigating their participation in an allegedly unlawful protest in Portadown last month.

The demonstration on the predominantly nationalist road was staged amid efforts to prevent an Orange Order parade passing down the route from nearby Drumcree Church.

Ms McDonald and Ms O'Neill were among several Sinn Féin politicians to receive letters from the Police Service of Northern Ireland asking them to attend Musgrave Street station for interview.

Politicians from other parties also received letters.

Under parading laws in Northern Ireland, protests must be notified to, and approved by, the Parades Commission adjudication body.

Police are carrying out an investigation into the unnotified protest on the Garvaghy Road on the day the parade was meant to proceed and said invitations to attend interviews had been sent to individuals "reasonably suspected of committing offences".