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Sunday, 29 November 2009

Loyalists blamed for Portadown violence

Loyalists have been blamed for orchestrating violence that left ten police officers injured on Saturday night.

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 in Portadown.

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

'Texts'

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.

"We need to hear from the leaders of unionism and the many variations of loyalism including the marching orders. We need some political leadership."

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.

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13 Comments

At 13:14 on 30 November 2009, Paul wrote:

Well said David and Aoife. A bunch of vermin who are allowed to run riot because the victim/blame culture of our society have to blame the PSNI every time this happens. If the PSNI are light handed they are wrong. They have to be light handed because the victim element within our culture has twisted the laws in this country so much they have no choice. If they are heavy handed or forced to act in order to protect life or property, then the victim complexers complain again, this time about police brutality and how things would have been fine if the PSNI had been light handed. Catch 22. Theres no winning either way so really the best thing to do in change the laws to zero tollerence, round up and jail the scum who riot using whatever means necessary and ignore the whingers who are preventing us from having a proper police force in the first place.

At 11:08 on 30 November 2009, chris wrote:

when the police and pub owners deal with the republican trouble makers who come up the town attacking late night drinkers heading home to loyalist areas then this will stop. im not saying i agree with what went on , but it had been coming and all the warning signs were ignored.

At 03:33 on 30 November 2009, Daniel wrote:

people under the age of 18 have nothing to do in portadown thats why thay are in pubs and clubs and it is also the savage beatings of those people by republicans who has brought this to the streets. this seems to me that it is an atempt to show the republicans who still belive in the ways of tit for tat that it wil not b tolarated on out streets ....

At 22:45 on 29 November 2009, ***** wrote:

I am dismayed that the unionist politicians have not made any comment on this disgraceful event, I witnessed the events of last night and no one person held any regard for property, or the community that was distroyed.........the unionist politicians should be out on the ground talking to the people who live in the area and seek their views and i can tell you that the people of Brownstown and Edgarstown are disgusted, The majority of people involved in last nights escapades where young people who had come out of a nearby nightclub and got involved for the fun of it, week by week pubs in portadow are packed with young people who are under the age of 18, and yet the police do nothing. the protest may have been organised weeks ago, but as for the riot haha, sure that was a joke too..........to say it was well organised would be giving those involved to much credit. The people of edgarstown and brownstown are good people and are cery un happy with the riot to say the least, those involved have brought shame to portadown once again

At 22:23 on 29 November 2009, Aoife wrote:

Same rubbish, everyone just blame the PSNI. The thugs wreck havoc and the police are getting the worst press. Try looking at what is going on in your country and open both your eyes people. The people in Northern Ireland have a culture now for using the police as a scapegoat for all its problems.

At 21:32 on 29 November 2009, Kevin wrote:

Brilliant comment, David. I love your 'drunken knuckle draggers' - that perfectly sums up the vermin who behave like this. Alas, if it's anything like the old days, the CCTV footage will mysteriously go missing.

At 20:51 on 29 November 2009, Kevin wrote:

The usual DUP and UUP wall of silence. You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves, Robinson and Empey. What's wrong, are you afraid you might lose the votes of thugs and bully-boys? Speak out now, while you're in power.