Northern Ireland First Minister to face no-confidence vote

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The motions tabled by unionist parties against her and three other Sinn Fein ministers, John O’Dowd, Caoimhe Archibald and Liz Kimmins on Tuesday, are likely to be debated early next week.

But the attempt to oust the ministers will fail as it requires cross-community support from a majority of both unionists and nationalists in the assembly.

This comes amid a major row over a planned Orange Order march through the mainly nationalist community of Garvaghy Road in Portadown, Co Armagh.

Ms O’Neill and other senior Sinn Fein politicians have been heavily criticised by unionists for joining protests which have blocked the parade from passing along the Garvaghy Road.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland is carrying out a criminal inquiry into the protests.

The first minister has defended her actions, saying she was proud to stand with the residents and adding that “when the law is wrong I will stand firmly against it.”

In the assembly on Monday, Ms O’Neill described the planned Orange parade as “unwanted, sectarian and triumphalist.”

The no-confidence motions were tabled by Traditional Unionist Voice assembly member Timothy Gaston, who has branded Ms O’Neill the “first minister of lawlessness.”