PSNI is accused of reacting with ‘heavy-handed tactics’

national | rights, freedoms and repression | other press Wednesday June 14, 2006 12:32 by Connla Young - Daily Ireland, 13 June 2006

Nationalist youth had bones broken in a hand

Nationalists in Co Derry have accused the PSNI of using “heavy-handed tactics” after a nationalist youth had bones broken in a hand during a weekend incident.

The 17-year-old was among a small group of nationalists who gathered at a mural dedicated to the hunger strikers on Sunday at Moneysharvin Road, outside Maghera. Local people were alerted after a minibus full of loyalist bandsmen stopped at the mural at around 11.30pm on Friday. It is understood they were returning from a parade held earlier in the night in nearby Magherafelt.

PSNI - up to old RUC tricks

A number of bandsmen are understood to have fled into nearby fields after a small group of teenagers arrived at the mural.

According to Magherafelt Sinn Féin councillor Kate McEldowney, who was at the scene, four PSNI Land Rovers arrived within minutes.

“The situation was calm. I spoke to the driver of the minibus and he said they had run out of petrol, even though it was a diesel vehicle. He told someone else they had alternator trouble. A number of people stayed with the bus but there was no trouble. Then the PSNI riot squad arrived. One of them, shouted “clear the road” and the PSNI men attacked the young nationalists that had gathered. Some of them was badly beaten and one has broken knuckles.

“This type of vicious heavy-handed thuggery by the PSNI does not shock the people of this area. They have seen it many times before and it only serves to heighten tension.”

The bandsmen were later escorted from the scene by the PSNI. The incident involving the loyalists bandsmen came just days after five petrol bombs and 11 bottles of paint were discovered close to the scene by the PSNI last Wednesday. An Orange hall was also attacked in the area at the weekend.

A spokesperson for the PSNI last night said they are “investigating a possible link,” between the incidents.
In May a number of nationalists were injured after loyalists targeted a mural dedicated to the hunger strikers just a few miles away at Glenshane Road. The PSNI faced strong criticism from nationalists who claimed they looked on as loyalists went on the rampage and attacked people in their homes.

Meanwhile the SDLP has condemned an attack on an Orange hall at Killygullib, near Upperlands, at the weekend.

“At this time of year it is particularly important that everyone keeps a steady head,” said the party’s Mid-Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone.

“The flags and provocative issues around parades inevitably surfaces. Those responsible for organising parades must make every effort to maintain a law-abiding presence with no provocative behaviour or flags deliberately displayed in public areas.

“Likewise, those responsible for attacks on Orange halls, such as Killygullib, really make no contribution to our society. Their sectarianism is not representative of the Irish nationalist community and is deeply resented by the entire community in an area that thankfully enjoys good community relations. It is clear that all sectarian attacks must stop now.”