Yobs hurl petrol bombs, fireworks and bottles at cops in FIFTH night of riots as chaos spreads to new town
MASKED yobs hurled petrol bombs and fireworks at cops for a fifth night in Northern Ireland, in what has been dubbed a "week of shame" for the region.
Cops battled another night of violence as thugs continued to cause widespread devastation
after the chaos began on Monday.
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A rioter walks past burning flames after chaos in Northern Ireland
Credit: Getty
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Riot police were out in force but were met by a barrage of petrol bombs and fireworks
Credit: Getty
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Riot police officers walk near a fire during the fourth night of unrest following a protest over an alleged sexual assault on a local teenage girl
Credit: Reuters
The unrest began on Monday in Ballymena over the alleged sexual assault of a girl in the town and the subsequent arrest of two 14-year-old boys.
But the focus of the violence and unrest has since shifted to Portadown.
One officer was directly in the impact of a petrol bomb that landed behind a line of police vehicles during a sustained standoff with those participating in the unrest yesterday.
Fireworks, masonry, and bottles were among other items thrown at riot police deployed in the town.
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Shortly before midnight cops used a water cannon on the crowd in an effort to disperse those gathered on West Street into other areas.
The force used the water cannon again at around 12.30am on Saturday.
Incidents have also occurred in other towns - Larne Leisure Centre was set on fire on Wednesday, while a man, woman, and four children escaped an arson attack on a house in Coleraine in the early hours of Friday.
Elsewhere on Friday, there were reports of disruption and damage to public property as riot police responded to another protest in the Tullyally area of Londonderry.
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It came after a senior officer said there would be a "scaled-up" policing presence across Northern Ireland in anticipation of further disorder over the weekend.
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the mobilisation, which would include officers sent over from Scotland, was "to reassure our communities and protect our streets".
Violence originally erupted on Monday, stemming from an initially peaceful gathering to support a girl and her family after an alleged sexual assault.
Sick moment vile yob shouts 'f*** foreigners' while setting family's home on FIRE in 'racist' riot carnage
Two 14-year-old boys appeared in court charged with attempted rape on Monday.
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A third man, 28, was also arrested over the alleged sexual assault.
The boys confirmed their names - which cannot be reported - and their ages through a Romanian interpreter at Coleraine Magistrates' Court.
But within hours of their court appearance, disorder broke out in Co Antrim.
Families in the town of Ballymena have been forced to flee their homes as the riots continue.
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Crowds set fire to piles of furniture in the middle of the streets, homes were set alight, and multiple cars went up in flames.
Harrowing photos from the last two nights show the charred remains of residents' property.
Footage showed masked and hooded rioters lobbing petrol bombs, fireworks and bricks at cops trying to calm the unrest on Tuesday.
Officers fired baton rounds and water cannon in a desperate bid to keep the mobs at bay.
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Why the two 14-year-old boys charged with attempted rape can't be named
The two teenagers charged with attempted rape appeared at Coleraine Magistrates' Court on Monday.
The defendants cannot be named due to their ages.
Article 22(2) of the 1998 Order restricts press and media reporting of proceedings in youth courts.
It states that, where a child is concerned in any criminal proceedings in a youth court or on appeal from a youth court, no report revealing the name, address or school of any child, including anything likely to lead to the identification of the child, shall be published.
Press and media are also restricted from publishing a picture of any child concerned, except where the court or the Department of Justice, if satisfied that it is in the interests of justice to do so, makes an order dispensing with these prohibitions.
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Larne Leisure Centre came under attack and was set on fire earlier this week
Credit: X / @TheNorfolkLion
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Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
More police officers hurt during fifth night of violence in Northern Ireland
More police officers were injured as heavy masonry and fireworks were thrown during disorder on Friday night, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has said. A senior officer warned that the force is actively investigating people inciting the disorder through social media. The scenes on Friday night in Portadown were the fifth consecutive night of rioting in the region after serious disturbances in Ballymena on Monday. The violence, which followed an alleged sex attack on a teenage girl in the Co Antrim town, has since spread to several other parts of Northern Ireland. On Saturday afternoon, hundreds of people attended a rally in Belfast city centre which heard calls for greater political leadership in opposing racism. More than 60 police officers have been hurt during the rioting. A PSNI spokesperson said: 'Disorder and violence broke out in Portadown with officers coming under sustained attack with heavy masonry and fireworks thrown at them. 'Officers used various public order tactics including water cannon to keep the public safe with no reports of injury to the public or damage to property.' A United Against Racism rally at Belfast City Hall on Saturday (Brian Lawless/PA Two males, aged 14 and 20, were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and remain in custody. Police in Derry dealt with disorder in the Tullyally area. A police vehicle was damaged, with the front window smashed. One male was arrested at around 2.20am and remains in custody. Damage was caused to playing fields and property in the Killeavey Road area of Newry as a large group set a pitch and bins on fire. One 14-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of riot. Stones were thrown at the windows of a hotel in the Newtownabbey area and a car was set on fire in the Hesketh Gardens area of Belfast, which police are treating as a racially motivated crime. More than 60 police officers have been hurt (Brian Lawless/PA) The disorder started in Ballymena on Monday after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the town last weekend. Two 14-year-old boys, who spoke to a court through a Romanian interpreter, have been charged with attempted rape. A peaceful protest about the alleged assault on Monday evening was followed by attacks on properties housing ethnic minorities and police. The PSNI described the scenes as 'racist thuggery'. Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said: 'It's deeply disturbing to see such young members of our communities involved in and in some areas driving criminal activity like this. 'I would appeal directly to parents and guardians to speak to your children about the impact their behaviour is having on the safety of our local communities and the impact this could have on their lives if arrested, charged and prosecuted. Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones (Liam McBurney/PA) 'We continue to have a heightened presence in our local communities to de-escalate violence and we are making arrests and will continue to make public appeals with photos of suspects. 'Do you want your child, family member or friend directly associated with this disorder in this way? These actions are not without serious consequence. 'I am so grateful to our frontline officers who continue to put themselves at risk in protecting everyone from this hate-motivated criminality.' Ms Jones added: 'To those posting hate on social media, inciting disorder or being seen to commit disorder, we are actively investigating what you have said and what you have been captured doing. 'We have an ongoing physical and online presence. Over the remainder of this weekend the public will continue to see a large policing presence across Northern Ireland 'As our investigation continues, we have already released images of four individuals we want to identify and interview in connection with our ongoing investigation. 'In releasing these images, I am asking the wider community to step forward and help us. 'It is in all of our interests, and in the interests of justice, that those responsible are dealt with and I would urge anyone who may have information to bring it forward. 'It is important to know over the remainder of this weekend the public will continue to see a large policing presence across Northern Ireland to reassure our communities and protect our streets. 'This will include the deployment of mutual aid resources from Scotland. These officers, trained to work in our environment, will be working side by side with their PSNI colleagues. 'We repeat, once more, our appeal for calm across Northern Ireland in the coming days.' Read More Northern Ireland one petrol bomb away from a racist murder, Belfast rally hears
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I was taken to UK's ‘paedo island' and subjected to horrific abuse from age 6… why I know I'll never get justice
A BRAVE victim of the UK's 'paedo island' has refused to help investigators in their efforts to improve safeguarding, fearing it is an impossible task. 8 Father Thaddeus Kotik never faced criminal charges for his alleged abuse of children Credit: Supplied 8 Six victims were paid compensation after a civil case found the Cistercian priest had abused them Credit: Supplied 8 The island's monastery, where monks continue to live Credit: Getty 8 Multiple men with convictions for sexual offences have been known to have resided on the island at various times for decades. In December, a report was published following a 'thorough review' and has recommended several safeguarding measures. But one victim, who was 'They say they've got this review and we're going to make it safe. Absolute b******s to that.' Read more on this story The victim - who previously described to us the horrors she suffered - went on to explain why she believed the systems overseeing the island would make it impossible to prevent future abuse. Mum told me not to report sick cult's abuse so I was silent for decades By Ryan Merrifield Evil monk Father Thaddeus Kotik, stationed at Caldey Island's monastery from 1947 until his death in 1992, never faced any criminal charges despite countless claims against him. However, six victims were paid compensation after a 2016 civil case found the Cistercian priest had sexually abused them between 1972 and 1987. One victim - who received a £19,000 payout - She made the trip to the island over school holidays and was preyed on almost every day by Kotik - also claiming she saw him abuse others, including babies. The victim told us how the priest would wear Y-fronts back to front to seem harmless and naive, and 'to pretend he didn't know how it all worked'. 'We just thought, 'This is an adult who is interested in us.'' She continued: 'What I noticed about Father Thaddeus, he always abused [the children of] vulnerable families.' She described coach loads of kids from care often visiting the island for days at a time, who he would prey on as they visited the Abbey grounds, often after luring them into the garden. 'The other monks said he was a bit of a joker, a bit of a child," she explained. "They didn't take him that seriously, but they knew there was something dodgy about him.' Referring to the other monks and staff, she said: 'The whole island was like a cult, it was a feudal hierarchy. You had them at the top and then everybody else underneath.' She claims in 1990 she told her mum - who died several years ago - about the abuse but was warned not to report it or Kotik would be segregated from the other monks on the island. 'Father Thaddeus would abuse us three or four times a day,' she recalled. 'His hands were very rough, and he always stank of BO. We would get infections because his hands were so dirty.' She described how Kotik was 'so compulsive' and would invite kids to a makeshift office he had near the dairy. His myna bird would chatter and he'd offer them biscuits before abusing them. She said the Lincoln biscuits had 'lumps all over them'. 'I remember thinking they were the tears in my eyes and how sad they were. Thinking of somebody's eyes." The victim finally stopped going to the island regularly at the age of 16. By then, she had gone through puberty, so Kotik had lost interest in her. But the trauma has remained, and she was later raped by someone linked to the Catholic church when she was 15. 'I felt I didn't have any rights over my body, I didn't feel I could say, 'No, I don't want to do this',' she said. 'What I tend to do now is just avoid people because I was never brought up to have the self confidence to say no. 'What I've realised is I'd rather be busy and lonely than in a relationship. 'When a relationship gets remotely sexual I'm right there and it's too loaded and too many conflicting feelings." The probe was overseen by Former Assistant Police & Crime Commissioner for South Wales, Jan Pickles OBE. It came after Maria Battle, former chair of the Howell Dda University Health Board in Wales, had been appointed to oversee the island earlier in 2024. She is a director of the Caldey island Estate Company Ltd which has led anti-abuse campaigners to question her independence. Most read in The Sun The report - which focused largely on accusations against the late Father Thaddeus Kotik - concluded victims of sexual abuse on the island were treated in a hostile, heartless and cruel way. In response, Caldey Abbey, which commissioned the report, apologised for the suffering caused. Father Thaddeus Kotik and Caldey Island Victim testimonies from the 1970s collected by Ms Pickles suggest Kotik - who lived on Caldey from 1947 until his death in 1992 - was a 'serial and prolific abuser of children', often in 'plain sight' of others on the island. The report states there were multiple other occasions where accusations of child sexual abuse were not appropriately logged or reported to the authorities. Six of Kotik's victims were paid compensation after a 2016 civil case found the Cistercian priest had sexually abused them between 1972 and 1987. The victim we spoke received a £19,000 payout. She told us Ms Pickles' has been 'very good' but added: 'They're not going to put the right things in place.' They say they've got this review and we're going to make it safe. Absolute b******s to that. Caldey Island victim She described the island itself as still 'a very feudal society' and said her and other victims have been invited to join the board which oversees the island, to help implement new safeguarding measures. But she declined, telling us: 'I just don't really trust anyone who wants to sit on that board because it is like Sherry Arnstein's Ladder of Participation.' This refers to a framework developed in the 1960s which shows who had power when important decisions are made. 'It looks at how undemocratic inviting people to give their views is,' said the victim. HOW TO REPORT HISTORICAL SEX ABUSE established in June 2014 to deliver the national policing response, oversight, and coordination of non-recent child sexual abuse investigations. It specifically looks at cases concerning persons of public prominence, or in relation to those offences which took place within institutional settings. You can report to the police at any time. It can be done in a number of ways – going to a police station, dialling 101, reporting online via a police website, or even through a third party, such as a friend or relative. When you first make contact with the police, they will take an initial report, a 'first account'. The force will then make contact with you to take more detailed information. An impartial investigation will then be launched based on what you have told officers. 'It's just posturing, I'm not going to take any notice. 'They say they've got this review and we're going to make it safe. Absolute b******s to that.' She added the measures are just 'playing lip service' to 'show that they're doing due diligence… it doesn't help anything'. As part of the review, the monks are not allowed to give religious or pastoral advice to visitors, even if asked, or pose for a selfie with them. And under a 'no touch' policy will be obliged to report any accidental physical contact. The victim described the selfie ban is 'pathetic', adding: 'It's not the selfies, it's the grooming of the families who come and stay.' She said it is 'systemic' to the way the Catholic church often attempts to 'deal with things internally… they don't want to hand over the criminals to the law'. She recalled during the 1980s an article in a Catholic publication blaming paedophilia on divorcees. 'It said if people didn't get divorced you wouldn't have this problem,' she said. The review revealed that a number of sex offenders had spent time on Caldey, including Paul Ashton, who lived there for years under an alias while on the run from police. 8 Caldey Island sits just two miles south of Tenby in Pembrokeshire Credit: Getty 8 Father Kotik arrived in 1947 and died there in 1992 Credit: Supplied 8 The island's old abbey, where monks continue to hold services Credit: Supplied He had unrestricted access to the IT system and used it to download indecent images of children. A visitor who discovered his true identity informed police and he was later jailed. When he was discovered at Caldey Island in 2011, more indecent images were found on his computer in the monastery. The visitor believed he had been operating a distribution network for indecent images of children, masquerading as a cleaning company. Two other men, Father John Shannon and John Cronin, convicted of sexual offences involving children, have also been linked to Caldey Island. Harrowing 'grooming' letter In a letter from an island resident seen by The Sun, it was alleged that a 'grooming' culture still persists and that offenders are 'protected'. The unnamed victim went on to tell us: 'If you're going to encourage people to take the vows of chastity, obedience and poverty, it's going to attract somebody, a certain sort of person, and quite likely that sort of person might be a little bit inadequate emotionally, or has something wrong.' She continued: 'I just think you've got the same situation now as you had back then. 'There's plenty of opportunity for a paedophile to groom families. 'There'll be someone on that island now who is a paedophile and it's just attracting that sort of person.' She said: 'The problem is, people turn up there who are dodgy. They are looking to run away - like any kind of grass roots community, you're going to get some people who are on the run from something. 'There's quite a lot of dodgy people there.' The problem is, people turn up there who are dodgy. They are looking to run away - like any kind of grass roots community, you're going to get some people who are on the run from something. Caldey Island victim Father Jan Rossey, who took on the role of abbot in 2023, said he'd read the review with "deep sorrow and regret" and that it was "particularly heartbreaking to hear children spoke up to adults and no action was taken. "Children and their families were failed when they should have been supported and listened to,' he said. He went on to 'sincerely apologise' to the victims of Kotik and 'past failures'. He added: "Since becoming Abbot, I have ensured that many safeguarding improvements have been put in place. These are detailed in the review.' Father Rossey said he had also reached out to anyone who came forward for the review 'offering to meet with them in person to apologise'. The victim we spoke to, who was not involved in the review, said she had not received such an offer. But said: 'I would meet him in person and I would tell him where I think the Catholic church has gone wrong - and how hollow some of these apologies are, and defensive, and not really genuine.' She added: 'I know there are people who are happy to speak about what happened but I try to have as little to do with it all as possible. 'I don't like to talk about it, I like to forget it. It's very haunting - this thing is still living with me.' 'Committed to ensuring highest standards' The Sun understands Safeguarding Officers and Trainers from the Religious Life Safeguarding Service (RLSS) have visited Caldey Island on multiple occasions since the investigation began, with the most recent visit taking place at the end of May. Melissa Andrews, CEO of the RLSS, said: "We are working closely with Caldey Island to ensure best practice in safeguarding. "Our team recently visited the island to deliver a series of training courses on-site, and we will continue to collaborate with their safeguarding lead to support and encourage their ongoing engagement." A spokesperson for Caldey island Estate Company Ltd said: "We are committed to ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding on Caldey Island. "Following the Independent Review led by Jan Pickles OBE—conducted entirely independently of Caldey Abbey—we have taken significant steps to implement all of the recommendations made. "Safeguarding matters are now overseen by an independent committee, which includes representation from victims and survivors. In line with the Review's guidance, our Safeguarding Lead is a qualified and experienced social worker who operates independently of the Island. We remain deeply committed to creating a safe, respectful, and transparent environment for everyone connected to Caldey Island, and we are grateful for the continued support and engagement of our wider community. Caldey Island spokesperson "We've made meaningful progress, much of which is detailed in the 2024 Annual Safeguarding Report, available on the Caldey Island website. "Looking ahead, the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency will be conducting an independent audit of our safeguarding practices in June 2025. "We welcome this review, and its findings will be made publicly available. "We remain deeply committed to creating a safe, respectful, and transparent environment for everyone connected to Caldey Island, and we are grateful for the continued support and engagement of our wider community." The Sun has also contacted Father Rossey for further comment. Do you know more? Email 8 The victim was just six years old when she was first abused by Kotik Credit: Getty
The Journal
5 hours ago
- The Journal
PSNI say more officers hurt after fifth night of violence in Northern Ireland
POLICE IN NORTHERN IRELAND have said that more officers were injured as heavy masonry and fireworks were thrown during disorder last night. A senior officer warned that the force is actively investigating people inciting the anti-immigration riots through social media. The scenes in Portadown last night were the fifth consecutive night of rioting in Northern Ireland after serious disturbances in Ballymena on Monday. The violence, which followed an alleged sexual assault on a teenage girl in the Co Antrim town, has since spread to several other parts of Northern Ireland. Hundreds of people are attending a rally in Belfast city centre which has heard calls for greater political leadership in opposing racism. More than 60 police officers have been injured during the week of rioting. In a statement, the PSNI said that disorder and violence broke out in Portadown with officers coming under sustained attack with heavy masonry and fireworks thrown at them. 'Officers used various public order tactics including water cannon to keep the public safe with no reports of injury to the public or damage to property,' the statement said. Advertisement Arrests Two males, aged 14 and 20, were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and remain in custody. Meanwhile, police in Derry dealt with disorder in the Tullyally area. A police vehicle was damaged, with the front window smashed. One male was arrested at around 2.20am and remains in custody. Damage was caused to playing fields and property in the Killeavey Road area of Newry as a large group set a pitch and bins on fire. One 14-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of riot. Stones were thrown at the windows of a hotel in the Newtownabbey area and a car was set on fire in the Hesketh Gardens area of Belfast, which police are treating as a racially motivated crime. The disorder started in Ballymena on Monday after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the town last weekend. Two 14-year-old boys, who spoke to a court through a Romanian interpreter, have been charged with attempted rape. A peaceful protest about the alleged assault on Monday evening was followed by attacks on properties housing ethnic minorities and police. The PSNI described the scenes as 'racist thuggery'. Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said: 'It's deeply disturbing to see such young members of our communities involved in and in some areas driving criminal activity like this. 'I would appeal directly to parents and guardians to speak to your children about the impact their behaviour is having on the safety of our local communities and the impact this could have on their lives if arrested, charged and prosecuted.' PSNI release images Jones said the police continue to have a heightened presence in local communities to de-escalate violence and are making arrests. She said they will continue to make public appeals with photos of suspects. Do you want your child, family member or friend directly associated with this disorder in this way? These actions are not without serious consequence. Related Reads 'Emergency rally' against racism held outside Belfast City Hall after days of unrest 'Remove the rats': How online rumours and threats sparked a week of anti-immigrant riots in NI Jones added: 'To those posting hate on social media, inciting disorder or being seen to commit disorder, we are actively investigating what you have said and what you have been captured doing. We have an ongoing physical and online presence.' The PSNI has already released images of four individuals they want to identify and interview in connection with their ongoing investigation. They have since released the image of a fifth individual that they wish to speak to in connection with the incidents of disorder and attacks on police officers. Police in Antrim are seeking to identify this man. PSNI PSNI 'In releasing these images, I am asking the wider community to step forward and help us,' Jones said. 'It is in all of our interests, and in the interests of justice, that those responsible are dealt with and I would urge anyone who may have information to bring it forward.' She said there will continue to be a large policing presence across Northern Ireland this weekend, which will include the deployment of police officers from Scotland who will be working alongside the PSNI. 'We repeat, once more, our appeal for calm across Northern Ireland in the coming days.'
