Around 60 people met at the border between Belcoo and Blacklion on Saturday to send a message to the UK government to ‘Back Off’ when it comes to the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The protest was organised by Border Communities Against Brexit (BCAB), as part of a series of protests all along the Border, with one of the speakers on Saturday, John Sheridan, saying: “From Derry to Newry, it sent the message.”

As well as members of the public, politicians from both sides of the Border were in attendance, with speeches from BCAB’s Mr. Sheridan; J.J. O’Hara, from Co. Leitrim; and Mary McGirl.

“As far as we were concerned we just wanted to send a message that the majority here [of people across Northern ireland] voted to remain [in the EU in the Brexit vote]; the majority of MLAs in Stormont are quite happy with the Protocol.

“It’s the will of the people, and we want to get that across,” said Mr. Sheridan.

Mr. Sheridan, a farmer, said there is evidence that the Protocol is working, pointing to the recent announcements by Almac, who are to create 1,000 jobs in Northern Ireland.

‘What is the alternative?’

He continued: “All businesses that I know are looking forward to the unfettered access to GB, the UK, and obviously – what is the alternative [to the Protocol]?

“If you trigger Article 16, it doesn’t get rid of the Protocol. What is the alternative? A trade war? Do they really want a trade war with Europe?

“This is an opportunity that has never, ever been seen before, and why is this rhetoric all the time going on against the Protocol when it is bringing in so much business, and so many jobs?”

The prosperity that will come from this “unfettered access”, said Mr. Sheridan, is vital to peace in Northern Ireland.

“If you have anything that creates division – and Brexit certainly created division – anything that harms an economy also harms a peace process, because peace processes need prosperity, and this is the first time the North ever had a real, good shot at prosperity.”

Mr. Sheridan also stressed that despite claims that the Protocol affects the constitutional status of the UK, this is not the case: “It does not affect sovereignty. Europe never wanted to interfere with the sovereignty of the UK, but they had to protect their Single Market,” he said.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Councillor and Vice-Cchair, Chris McCaffrey, was also in attendance on Saturday.

He spoke of the rhetoric of the British government and how it is not helpful for anyone, and it should be dialled down.

“It is clear that Brexit has not worked out the way Boris [Johnson] and his Cabinet thought; however, they have now shown complete irresponsibility by threatening to activate Article 16, which would significantly destabilise trade on the island of Ireland, and cause major difficulties for our business and agri-food sectors.

“Article 16 is a safeguard against serious societal, economic and trading difficulties – not to use as a carrot and stick to try to renegotiate the deal which the British government already agreed and signed up to.

“Last year, [Chief Brexit negotiator Lord] Frost described it as a “very good deal” which he helped negotiate , and now he says it isn’t a good deal, and that he should be trusted to get something better.”

Mr. McCaffrey said the protest on Saturday, and a strong turnout from across counties Fermanagh, Cavan and Leitrim, sent a strong message that the people of Ireland will not be used as pawns in Britain’s political or economic interests.

“Those days are well and truly over – there will be no return to a hard Border on our island,” he added.