Residents 'in hell' over Derry violence

Published Monday, 23 July 2012
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Residents living in the Galliagh area of Londonderry have told UTV of their hell, with disturbances breaking out for four nights running.

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Police have come under attack from youths throwing missiles, including petrol bombs, and burning barricades have been used to block roads.

The violence is said to have been sparked by the removal of material intended for a nationalist bonfire.

"It needs to stop and stop now," PSNI Chief Inspector Gary Eaton said.

It’s been hell. It's terrifying.

Derry resident

Given the trouble outside homes in the Moss and Bracken Park areas, residents were too afraid to be identified - but one woman told UTV she was terrified living in her own home.

"You're afraid to sleep because they're throwing petrol bombs and you're afraid if the police come down this way and the petrol bombs hit the house," she said.

A bonfire has been lit in the area every August, but - particularly after the collapse last year which put those watching at risk - residents were surveyed and said they wanted the bonfire material removed.

One community worker told UTV that a minority of youths were simply using the bonfires as an excuse for anti-social behaviour.

"I think there a very small number of young people - five, six, seven young people of a certain age - who are involved in terms of vandalism and anti-community behaviour," Oliver Green said.

"And they use the mythical culture around bonfires as an excuse."

Two men, aged 18 and 43, have been charged so far in relation to the disturbances.

Police say more arrests will be made.

Officers have also warned that someone will be seriously injured if the violence continues.

© UTV News
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3 Comments
Louise in tyrone wrote (306 days ago):
Dont bring loyalist estates into it like 'tullyally' cause am sure that if a survey was done over holding 12th July bonfires in loyalist estates, the survey would be positive and all residents would want the bonfire. The survey was done in galliagh and the bonfire wasnt wanted.
sean in free derry wrote (306 days ago):
utv why dont you go into tullyally and places like that and witness the same but worse cars burning, rioting, loyalist factions fighting, drug use and loyalist shows of strength it seems loyalism has been shown for what it is and utv is blackening the nationalist community in return and if you utv dont put this up it proves it!!
disillusioned in north belfast wrote (306 days ago):
My deepest apologies to the guy who posted on an earlier forum who pointed out that the bonfire was nothing more than an excuse for anti social behaviour and had nothing to do with Internment. However, my sentiments from my prior post still hold true...ban all OO and Republican celebrations... that way the 'hoods' have no excuse.
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