DUP MP Carla Lockhart addresses criticism after she is pictured with masked men during a protest in Scarva, County Down. According to multiple reports, the event centers on a counter-protest to a pro-Palestine march, described as opposition to a “Great March for Gaza.” The Irish Times reports that hundreds attend the counter-demonstration in the village on Saturday. The Evening Standard and Belfast Telegraph say Lockhart defends the circumstances of the photograph, stating she intervened to help keep order and ensure calm during the counter protest. She characterizes her involvement as aimed at de-escalating tensions rather than endorsing any specific individuals. Belfast Telegraph notes the photo drew public criticism and that Lockhart publicly responded to those concerns. Across the outlets, there is agreement that Lockhart is the subject of the photograph and that the broader protest context involves competing pro- and anti-Palestine demonstrations in Scarva, with large numbers of participants attending.