NATIONALISTS CORRALLED IN BALLYMENA
Sinn Féin's North Antrim spokesperson and Ballymoney Councillor Phillip McQuigan has slammed the handling by the RUC of a potentially dangerous situation in the nationalist estate of Fisherwick in Ballymena.
McQuigan said that in response to a threat by Orangemen to take an illegal parade into the mainly nationalist estate, the RUC corralled residents for over two hours.
``The situation was further aggravated by the aggressive and antagonistic behaviour of the RUC,'' he added. ``In an attempt to provoke the residents of Fisherwick, the RUC attempted to detain two young men until challenged by Sinn Fein representatives.'' With McQuigan's intervention, the situation was defused.
McQuigan added: ``The RUC would serve the interests of the wider community by halting these illegal parades at source rather than laying siege to nationalist areas.
``As a society we need to see the creation of an accountable policing service that is able to protect the rights of everyone living in the north of Ireland equally. The widespread intimidation of nationalists in Ballymena and throughout the North is no longer acceptable, whether it comes from loyalists or the RUC.''
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