Over 1,000 people protested outside Stormont on October 13 marking 1,000 days since the collapse of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Organised by campaign groups We Deserve Better and MLAs Get #Back2Work, over 1,000 people with placards lined the avenue of the Stormont Parliament Buildings from the gates to Edward Carson’s statue and beyond. Following the demonstration, speeches were held by MLAs Get #Back2Work. Nichola Corner, the sister of journalist Lyra McKee gave a poignant speech followed by speeches from students of Lagan College, poetry and singing.

Founder of the We Deserve Better campaign group Dylan Quinn concluded the protest with a speech.

Speaking post event, Dylan said: “It was wet and cold but a great atmosphere and a very positive response from people there.”

He continued: “People were very frustrated, lost a little bit in what to do, wanting to feel that they were part of something that was trying to change what is going on here.”

Dylan noted that there were people from all aspects of life out protesting on the day. “One woman was there with her two eight-week-old twins, we had people in mobility scooters, we had people with life-limiting illnesses, we had people who are seriously impacted by a lack of government and are very concerned about how there is no progress there at all,” he said, adding: “A number of political representatives from various parties were there, the smaller parties, not the two main parties, not the DUP or Sinn Fein and the response was really positive there was a really good atmosphere.”

When asked if he believes the message of the campaign groups is resonating with the MLAs, Dylan commented: “I think it is resonating, we are getting a little bit of pick up but we could do with more.”

“Last time there was a gathering at Stormont it was run by MLAs Get #Back2Work there was about 300/350 people, this time there was well over 1,000 people there so that is growing and the message of We Deserve Better.

“That was mentioned a lot in Nichola’s speech, that her family are questioning ‘what does it take’, if Lyra’s death wasn’t enough to make them engage proactively in talks and effectively in talks, what is it going to take and that was a stark question she asked, is it going to take another Omagh, another Shankill, what’s it going to take for them to do something?”