Internment protests, Sinn Fein Councillor contacts PSNI about attacks on his home by 'Dissident' youths

 

Internment protests, Sinn Fein Councillor contacts PSNI about attacks on his home by 'Dissident' youths

People have been arrested over the trouble in the Divis Street, North Queen Street and Stewartstown Road on Wednesday night.

Petrol bombs were thrown at police and vehicles were burnt out, and another four people were arrested in Banbridge - seven in total have now been charged.

And it has emerged that on Thursday night a car was set on fire in Belfast in what is believed to have been an attempt to lure police back in to the riot-hit area.

Gerard O'Reilly described the scenes as bottles were thrown at his house.

"We were sitting at home when the windows were attacked at the side of the house, there was smashing of beer and wine bottles," the councillor said.

"Then I left my house and saw two people running away.

"We are one of the most socially deprived areas in Europe and what we need to do is go out there and put a positive foot forward - unfortunately there is a huge price to be paid.

"This isn't only about myself, I have a family living with me as well that have to go through this but any attempt to intimidate me, they will fail."

There was further trouble overnight as a local couple's car was petrol bombed under the cover of darkness.
They did not wish to appear on camera, but they described how they heard the alarm going off, looked out their window and saw their car engulfed in flames.

They said they could not believe what was happening.

Residents in the area said they do not want any more trouble - and no more bonfires.

Liam Wiggins said: "What happened the other night is a disgrace and it was against 99% of the people on New Lodge Road.

"The wood was lifted on six occasions before they had the bonfire because the people with the Executive and the PSNI wanted it taken away. No-one wants this."

Most local people believe dissidents are exploiting the young by getting them to riot.

Paul O'Neill said: "We can work with young people but there are other adults, in inverted commas, who are behind this and I don't know how you can stop these people.

"They need to rethink what they are doing if they think this is representing republicanism in any positive way or anything else, they need to think again."

Police said in Belfast, men aged 33, 20, 17 and 17 have been charged in connection with the trouble, while a 13-year-old girl has been released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service and a 25-year-old man has been released on police bail.

In Banbridge, a 15-year-old girl and two men aged 21 and 22 have been charged, and a 28-year-old man has been released on police bail.