An official counter-protest is being planned in Scarva to coincide with a Pro-Palestine march through the village in June.
Two applications have now been made to the Parades Commission and are currently under consideration.
Both have been marked as “sensitive” and come off the back of incidents in the village during a similar march last year.
In addition, by Monday evening, ‘Markethill Volunteers Flute Band’ had shared details on social media of plans for a ‘sponsored walk’ to take place at the same time.
The Lurgan Branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign has notified of its intention to walk from Lurgan to Newry on Saturday, June 6.
In its application to the Parades Commission, it details plans to leave from Market Street in Lurgan at 8.30am, arriving on the Mullahead Road, by 10.30am.
From there, is it intended to join the Newry Canal Towpath to proceed for the remainder of the journey, where it was estimated the procession would arrive at Newry Town Hall by 5pm.
The walk – which would pass through Scarva en route – is being styled as the ‘Great March for Gaza & International Justice’ and the organisers have arranged for special T-shirts to be designed and sold ahead of the proposed event.
IPSC Lurgan have estimated that around 1,500 participants will be walking on the day.
As details of the march appeared on social media, a separate application has since followed by the Scarva Residents Group.
They have detailed to the Parades Commission their intent to hold a protest in the village, between 10am and 5pm, anticipating around 100 participants.
Markethill Volunteers Flute Band, via its Facebook page, shared details of a sponsored walk on the Canal Towpath, between Scarva and Portadown.
It is advertised to begin at 10am and to take place on the ’82nd anniversary of D-Day’, with the ‘chosen organisation’ being the ‘Frontier Pipes and Drums Mental Health’.
It is being promoted as a “dignified and peaceful day of remembrance, music and community spirit”, with participants asked to “adhere to marshals throughout the walk” and “all bands welcome” to come along.
Tensions were high in Scarva last year when a number of arrests were made for disorder offences following a ‘Great March for Palestine’ between Lurgan and Newry.
Superintendent Norman Haslett, who was responsible for the policing operation, said at the time: “Three males were cautioned in relation to public order offences at the towpath between Portadown and Newry and four males were arrested following minor disorder associated with a protest held at the Main Street in Scarva.
“These protests had not been notified to the Parades Commission as required by law and officers issued warnings to this effect.”
This year, both parties have submitted their applications to the Parades Commission which is expected to issue its determination shortly.
