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Monday, 30 August 2010

Woman 'very ill' before parade assault

The son of a 58-year-old Catholic woman allegedly punched in the face during a Royal Black Perceptory parade in Ballymena says his mother was already in very poor health before the attack.

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Mary McKeown was assaulted as she tried to cross Broughshane Street while the Royal Black Institution procession was passing on Saturday, it is claimed.

Her son, Don McKeown, says she was on her way to a hairdresser's appointment when up to four men allegedly beat her. She was later treated for her injuries at Antrim Area Hospital.

"She's in extremely poor health as it is," Don told UTV. "She's 58-years-old and she's not well, she's not in good health at all.

"She was simply walking down the road at her leisure to get her hair done.

"She attempted to cross the road and one of these men just punched her in the face and they were punching at her and pushed her to the ground."

He continued: "She was hit on the back of the neck and her fingers are dislocated.

"This was just thuggery, absolute thuggery."

Sinn Féin councillor Monica Digney said she visited the woman in hospital in the wake of the incident.

"One marcher grabbed but she got away then another swung her round and punched her right on the cheek", she said.

"She was then subjected to a torrent of sectarian abuse."

Police say they had initially received a report on Saturday afternoon that a woman had fallen during the parade but the woman later said she had been attacked.

SDLP MLA Declan O'Loan expressed his concern over how the PSNI investigated the alleged incident.

"I am concerned that the police initially appear to have logged it simply as a lady having collapsed in the street," he said.

"My concern around that is was every opportunity taken to collect evidence at the time, particularly eye-witness evidence.

"I'll be asking the police about that and if I don't get a satisfactory answer from them I'll be advising that it's up to the Police Ombudsman to make a complaint and to have that investigated."

The north Antrim MLA said he will be reporting the incident to the Parades Commission and the PSNI after visiting the family.

"I visited this lady at the request of her family on Saturday evening and she was still very shocked," Mr O'Loan said.

"I believe that she was the subject of three separate assaults by different individuals including being punched in the face.

"These assaults were totally unacceptable and they must be fully investigated by the PSNI.

"I will also be contacting the Royal Black Preceptory about these matters and asking them to meet me to discuss them."

Mr O'Loan added that other incidents also took place during Saturday's parade.

The PSNI say they are investigating the claim.

A spokesman for the Royal Black Institution urged anyone who witnessed the incident to contact the police.

Thousands of people took part in Royal Black Institution parades across Northern Ireland on Saturday.

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36 Comments

At 18:19 on 02 September 2010, Peter wrote:

Yes Ernie.... its all an evil plot... she must have imagined it..... loyalists couldn't be so brutal.... God, you are a sad man!!!!!

At 09:51 on 02 September 2010, BIG ERNEST wrote:

peter , yeah really freaked about your rage and anger , locking my door here as i type , anyway , this woman claims she was assulted by marchers in a street lined with hundreds of people , she has not realised that cctv is in operation where she claims she was attacked , not one person has came forward and said they saw anything , furthermore the ambulance service refutes her claims as do the people who where in the street watching the parade.

At 18:08 on 01 September 2010, Des Gusted wrote:

@John... So much time and effort to cloud the issue, and not one hint of pity for a battered, bruised and frightened 58 year old woman who ended up in hospital.... says a lot about you1

At 12:22 on 01 September 2010, John wrote:

A further claim by Ms Digney was that an ambulance taking the woman to hospital was delayed by the parade – this has been refuted by the ambulance service. A spokesman for the NI Ambulance Service had spoken to the crew involved and was satisfied there was no issue of obstruction. "Once the casualty was ready to leave the scene there was absolutely no delay. As is always the case, the parade was stopped to allow the ambulance to get the casualty to hospital," he said. I think there are grounds to question the reliability of Cllr Digney's role in all of this.

At 12:04 on 01 September 2010, John wrote:

@Jim "don't blame the Orange Order and the cowards that beat a 58 year old woman". Jim you show your ignorance this parade had nothing to do with Orange Order. Just another example of distorting the facts to suit your narrow minded view. Let the PSNI establish the facts, as I said before the Royal Black Preceptory has asked anyone with infomation to go to them.

At 18:38 on 31 August 2010, Tommy Atkins wrote:

Heather I don't have to see it and at this momentI have no reason to doubt this lady. But then I do not live in that sewer pipe of blind, sectarian hatred called N Ireland

At 18:30 on 31 August 2010, big ernest wrote:

realist (yeah sure you are lol ) ; the only thing real about you is that your the one who is the wee boy , sadly you choose to post under another false name which is not surprising , furthermore if i am a wee boy then do you often pick on children ? is that one of your traits then apart from talking nonesense ?