Irish Republican News · August 30, 2010

PSNI blamed for Ballycastle riot

The PSNI have been accused of provoking a riot in the seaside town of Ballycastle, on the north Antrim coast.

A convicial atmosphere in the centre of the town, just hours before the start of the famous Auld Lammas Fair, ended in chaos when the PSNI clubbed Bank Holiday revellers and arrested almost twenty of them.

Padraig McShane. McShane, an independent member of Moyle District Council who watched the police in action, asaid the PSNI goaded people and then mounter an ‘over the top’ arrest operation.

Mr McShane said: “This was heavy handed policing. They were very aggressive and the batons were out before the arrests.

“It’s very easy for the police to look at young people on the wrong side and give them a hard time. But that’s what happened and the violence was not a reflection of the people of Ballycastle.”

He added: “The police were totally OTT as far as I am concerned and they should learn lessons from this. Why call in the riot squad when there is no riot?

“They just intimidated the young people. Some were arrested for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and I’ll be interested to see how many are actually charged. It’s a ridiculous scenario.”

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