PSNI officers injured in NI attacks

29 novembre 2009

Loyalists were tonight blamed for orchestrating violence that has left ten police officers injured in the North.

Nationalists said they had alerted the authorities to the risk of violence two weeks ago after loyalists began circulating texts calling for a show of strength.

A 19-year-old man has been charged with assaulting a police officer, plus public order offences, while a 31-year-old man has been released on bail pending further police investigations into the violence that occurred after crowds gathered at midnight last night in Portadown.

Police said ten officers suffered minor injuries and vehicles were damaged after trouble in the Mandeville Street and West Street area.

SDLP Upper Bann MLA Dolores Kelly said: “Two weeks ago we warned that texts were circulating calling on all loyalists to gather for a show of force in the centre of the town at pub closing time.

“This was incredibly stupid, incredibly provocative and the purpose was made absolutely clear in the texts which we forwarded to the media — to intimidate nationalists and lay claim to ownership of the town centre.

“As far as I have heard the police were prepared and were able to move the mob back and generally control the situation. But the fundamental point is that a very substantial group of people are determined to deny access to the town centre for all.”

She added: “This is naked bully-boy sectarianism and it cannot just be left to the police to deal with the inevitable consequences.

The Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition questioned police tactics which it said had failed to prevent a large crowd of loyalists intent on intimidating nationalists from gathering in the town centre.

PSNI ‘aware’ of texts before riots

u.tv

The police have rejected criticism expressed by a local MLA about how they handled a loyalist protest in Portadown that erupted into violence at the weekend.

Monday, 30 November 2009

The police operation was criticised for not being robust enough after trouble flared in the early hours of Sunday morning during an illegal rally organised via text messages.

Ten police officers were injured and several cars damaged in what the PSNI described as « vicious public disorder ».

« Police were aware that texts were circulating in the area. Police put an operation in place, » Superintendent Barbara Gray said.

« Community officers were out on the ground and were backed up by specially trained public order police, » she added.

She branded the scenes of violence as « disgraceful ».

« Sadly some people chose to attack the police and cause trouble on the streets of their own town.

« We need to be very clear where the blame lies here. It lies with the people who organised this illegal gathering. It lies with the thugs who attacked police. »

The PSNI has urged people in positions of civic leadership to ensure that future tensions are defused.

On Sunday local SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly said the police operation was « disappointing ».

Officers also faced criticism from the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition who questioned their tactics to prevent the crowd from gathering.

Policing Board chairman Barry Gilligan is to ask the police about its handling of the protest.

A 19-year-old man has been charged with assaulting a police officer, plus public order offences, while a 31-year-old man has been released on bail pending further police investigations.

Loyalist mob’ blamed for trouble

Sunday, 29 November 2009

Disturbances in Portadown in which police were attacked have been blamed on a « carefully-orchestrated loyalist mob » by a local SDLP assembly member.

A large crowd gathered on Sunday shortly after midnight in the Mandeville Street and West Street area.

Ten officers sustained minor injuries and a number of vehicles were damaged.

Dolores Kelly said the plans were known weeks ago and the gathering should have been stopped. A police spokeswoman said appropriate resources were in place.

The trouble, said by police to be sporadic, lasted for about three hours.

A 19-year-old man is to appear in court next month charged with assault on police and public order offences, while a 31-year-old was released pending further inquiries.

‘Provocative’

Mrs Kelly said: « Two weeks ago we warned that texts were circulating calling on all loyalists to gather for a show of force in the centre of the town at pub closing time.

« This was incredibly stupid, incredibly provocative and the purpose was made absolutely clear in the texts which we forwarded to the media – to intimidate nationalists and lay claim to ownership of the town centre.

« As far as I have heard the police were prepared and were able to move the mob back and generally control the situation. But the fundamental point is that a very substantial group of people are determined to deny access to the town centre for all. »

She said she had called for an investigation into the police’s handling of the incident.

The Irish News reported on 19 November that text messages were circulating urging loyalists to gather on a given weekend night « to show republicans that we will not tolerate their behaviour or presence in our area ».

Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition spokesman Breandan Mac Cionnaith said: « By permitting this intimidatory mob to assemble last night in the first place, the PSNI ensured a clear message was sent out signalling that Portadown town centre is not a welcome or safe place at night for Catholics or nationalists.

« That is totally and completely objectionable and abhorrent and cannot be justified under any circumstances. »

A police spokeswoman said they were aware of the text messages being circulated and appropriate resources had been put in place to deal with the illegal gathering.

She said police were « working with the public and community representatives to resolve the situation ».

~ par Alain Bertho sur 30 novembre 2009.

Publié dans émeutes, riots