Protests against imposition of a ‘hard border’

Demonstrations were held today at Aughnacloy and Lifford Bridge in Strabane as part of a series of protests telling Boris Johnson to “back off” on plans to trigger Article 16 which could lead to a ‘hard border’.

The group Border Communities Against Brexit (BCAD) organised protests at five locations on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic in support of the protocol.

It has accused the British Government of damaging the peace process with its threats to suspend elements of the treaty, which has prevented a hard border in Ireland but created trade barriers between Britain and Northern Ireland.

There were also demonstrations at Flurry Bridge in Carrickcarnon, Belcoo/Blacklion, Moybridge, and Bridgend in Derry.

TALKS DEADLOCKED

Talks between London and Brussels over the contentious protocol remain deadlocked and there is speculation that the UK is poised to trigger Article 16 in the coming weeks. The UK Government has set a December deadline for a resolution in talks on the protocol.

The arrangement effectively keeps Northern Ireland inside the EU’s single market for goods, resulting in some checks for products crossing the Irish Sea from Great Britain.

But Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Brexit negotiator David Frost have argued the EU’s interpretation of the deal has led to difficulties.

The EU has presented a package it believes will eliminate the need for 80% of checks, but the UK has insisted the oversight role of the European Court of Justice is removed, a move Brussels firmly rejects.