'It scared me' - Olympic swimmer describes Larne terror
A two-time Irish Olympic swimmer has told of her terror as she was confronted by masked men who attacked Larne Leisure Centre last night while she was coaching children.
Danielle Hill had arrived to take a coaching session at Larne Leisure Centre when she saw a crowd assembling.
Masked youths then attacked the building, which was briefly used to provide temporary refuge to two ethnic minority families who had been driven from their homes in nearby Ballymena.
"As I walked outside to move my car, four masked men walk around the corner," Danielle told RTÉ News.
"I've never experienced something like that and it scared me."
The 25-year-old decided to cancel her session and called the child protection officer to arrange the collection of the children.
"I made my way back inside and it was time to leave. I said 'guys, I'm gonna have to go and please be wary, be vigilant'," she said.
"As I packed up my things and prepared to leave, just around this far corner, there was balaclaved men.
"I thought, OK, this isn't good and this is only going to get worse."
Ms Hill said she had been reassured on arrival that police were on the scene but they were quickly outnumbered and withdrew for a time before riot officers returned.
In the meantime, burning bins were brought into the foyer of the building and the flames spread. The glass front of the leisure centre was also smashed up.
Dozens of children were in the leisure centre, some as young as six.
"This is a place that kids enjoy coming to. There was no need for what happened last night and it was taken too far, unfortunately," Ms Hill said.
"There was some peaceful protest and I get that, but for the very few that decided to take it too far, it was too far.
"It could have ended very differently."
Ms Hill said she thought Northern Ireland had moved beyond violence and masked men, something she did not have any experience of growing up.
"We can't be back to square one. Ethnicity and race doesn't belong in our club and and the violence last night was so unnecessary, it didn't achieve anything," she said.
"All I would ask is that it stopped."
Ms Hill said the focus should return to the core of the issue - the alleged sexual assault of a young girl and the wider issue of violence against women and girls.
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RTÉ News
a day ago
- RTÉ News
'It scared me' - Olympic swimmer describes Larne terror
A two-time Irish Olympic swimmer has told of her terror as she was confronted by masked men who attacked Larne Leisure Centre last night while she was coaching children. Danielle Hill had arrived to take a coaching session at Larne Leisure Centre when she saw a crowd assembling. Masked youths then attacked the building, which was briefly used to provide temporary refuge to two ethnic minority families who had been driven from their homes in nearby Ballymena. "As I walked outside to move my car, four masked men walk around the corner," Danielle told RTÉ News. "I've never experienced something like that and it scared me." The 25-year-old decided to cancel her session and called the child protection officer to arrange the collection of the children. "I made my way back inside and it was time to leave. I said 'guys, I'm gonna have to go and please be wary, be vigilant'," she said. "As I packed up my things and prepared to leave, just around this far corner, there was balaclaved men. "I thought, OK, this isn't good and this is only going to get worse." Ms Hill said she had been reassured on arrival that police were on the scene but they were quickly outnumbered and withdrew for a time before riot officers returned. In the meantime, burning bins were brought into the foyer of the building and the flames spread. The glass front of the leisure centre was also smashed up. Dozens of children were in the leisure centre, some as young as six. "This is a place that kids enjoy coming to. There was no need for what happened last night and it was taken too far, unfortunately," Ms Hill said. "There was some peaceful protest and I get that, but for the very few that decided to take it too far, it was too far. "It could have ended very differently." Ms Hill said she thought Northern Ireland had moved beyond violence and masked men, something she did not have any experience of growing up. "We can't be back to square one. Ethnicity and race doesn't belong in our club and and the violence last night was so unnecessary, it didn't achieve anything," she said. "All I would ask is that it stopped." Ms Hill said the focus should return to the core of the issue - the alleged sexual assault of a young girl and the wider issue of violence against women and girls.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Racism in its most dangerous form' – Irish Olympian condemns attack on Larne Leisure Centre as Ballymena unrest spreads
AN IRISH Olympic swimmer who is a member of Larne Swimming Club has spoken of her sadness at the attack on Larne Leisure Centre. Danielle Hill, who also coaches younger children at the club, said the leisure centre was a safe space for so many. 2 Larne Leisure Centre was damaged during a third night of unrest in Northern Ireland Credit: Reuters 2 Olympic swimmer Hill has condemned what unfolded on Wednesday evening In a post on She outlined: 'I have proudly represented on the world stage. No child should ever be forced to witness masked men in their home community. 'The local leisure centre is a safe place for so many, from young children (as young as six) learning to swim to elderly residents, has now been transformed into a place marked by fear and trauma. 'What unfolded last night was not just violence – it was racism in its rawest and most dangerous form. Read More On Irish Sport "Young people seeking 'fun' in a senseless act of vandalism. "And its consequences are already being felt; a local community torn apart, families left frightened, workers left without incomes. "The harm is not abstract – it is here, it is local and it is devastating.' The 25-year-old also encouraged rebuilding. Most read in Other Sports She pleaded: 'This is a moment to come together, not fall apart. Let's keep talking. Let's keep listening. "As we have done so many times before, let's lead with compassion, stand up for one another and show the strength of our community through our support – for every child and every family that calls this centre a home. Time to rebuild.' Masked yobs set fire to NI leisure centre 'used to house locals fleeing riots' as violence hits Ballymena for 3rd night More rioting Yobs attacked police with petrol bombs, hatchets and fireworks in the main flashpoint of Ballymena. Police battled Unrest spread to other towns yesterday evening, including Coleraine and Larne – where the leisure centre was set on fire by masked vandals. Swimming classes were taking place in the community centre, which was temporarily being used as an emergency centre for those who were forced to flee their homes that were set on fire by yobs. 'NO EXCUSE' Local Alliance Party lawmaker, Danny Donnelly said bricks were thrown through the windows and staff had to barricade themselves in before running out the back door. Northern Ireland's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, a DUP representative for the area, said: "There is absolutely no excuse for what has taken place in Larne and it must be condemned." Elsewhere, social media footage appeared to show an established fire on train tracks running through Coleraine. Police said youths were setting fires at a roundabout in the town of Newtownabbey. The violence initially erupted after two 14-year-old boys were arrested and appeared in court on Monday, accused of a serious sexual assault on a teenage girl in Ballymena.
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Catering supervisor sacked over racial abuse loses WRC case: ‘How can I be racist?'
FAIR FIRING | 'I think the most serious part for me was that it made me out to be racist. One person said that when we were up in the A&E that I said: 'You're not Irish, you're black'. Workplace Relations Commission. Annette Ryan was dismissed from her part-time job as shift supervisor on an evening catering team at Waterford Hospital in September 2023 following bullying, harassment and racial abuse complaints from four of her subordinates. She wholly denied all of the allegations made against her, including complaints that she decided to change one worker's name to 'Tom' because she 'didn't speak his 'lingo',' and that she insulted another worker with references to their 'fat ass'. In a decision published today, a Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator concluded Ms Ryan's ex-employer, Campbell Catering Ltd, trading as Aramark, came to 'credible and reasonable conclusions' in a disciplinary process, and found that her sacking was 'fair in the circumstances'. At an online WRC hearing in March this year, Brian Joyce of the Irish Business and Employers' Confederation (IBEC), appearing for Aramark, said Ms Ryan's manager, Marcin Skrzypczak was approached by a worker in July 2023 who complained of 'bullying and discrimination'. Three more workers also came forward with complaints, and Ms Ryan was suspended pending an investigation, the tribunal was told. Workplace Relations Commission. News in 90 Seconds - June 11th Questioning Ms Ryan at an online hearing in March this year, WRC adjudicator Gaye Cunningham said: 'There were a number of serious allegations made against you. Is it your case that you just said this didn't happen? Did you think they all made it up, or what?' 'I think the most serious part for me was that it made me out to be racist. One person said that when we were up in the A&E that I said: 'You're not Irish, you're black', or something like that. That wasn't the case at all, I'm not a bit like that, that's what I said to them,' Ms Ryan said. 'You think he made that up, is it?' Ms Cunningham asked. 'The person who said it, made it up? Of course he did,' Ms Ryan said. These were addressed with the complainant at an investigation meeting in August 2023, the WRC decision recorded. Ms Ryan was dismissed the following month. "How can I be racist? I've worked with these people for 13 years," she told the WRC earlier this year. Her evidence was that she had worked with 'people from Nigeria, China, everywhere' at Waterford Hospital and was 'not a bit like that'. Her manager, Mr Skrzypczak, told the tribunal: 'I didn't feed anyone [anything] to go forward. People started coming to me, and as a site manager, I am responsible to act,' he added. Company disciplinary officer, Vladislava Tsapova, told the hearing she considered the workers' complaints against Ms Ryan 'genuine'. 'They were people who were genuinely afraid of a person who was in a supervisory position,' she said, adding that Ms Ryan offered neither any explanation for her behaviour nor any mitigating factors. Read more Brian Joyce of IBEC, who appeared for Aramark, submitted: 'The complainant was afforded a fair and impartial determination of the issues. Any allegation the process was flawed is denied.' Ms Cunningham noted Ms Ryan's 'denial of the allegations at all stages' and her stated belief that she was 'set up' -- but concluded the employer had come to 'credible and reasonable conclusions in the disciplinary process'. 'Had [Ms Ryan] accepted or shown some acknowledgement or remorse… the penalty may have been less harsh,' she wrote. 'The dismissal of the complainant indicates that racial abuse and bullying in the workplace will not be tolerated by any reasonable employer,' she added. The adjudicator dismissed Ms Ryan's complaint and ruled her sacking 'fair in the circumstances'. In evidence to the WRC in March, Aramark regional manager, Stephen Power, said he decided Ms Ryan had a case to answer when he met her on August 17 for an investigation meeting, he said. Ms Ryan offered no explanations when he presented her with the statements and responded with denials, he added. Ms Tsapova said she chaired the disciplinary meeting with Ms Ryan on August 30, 2023. She said Ms Ryan offered neither any mitigating factors nor any explanations when the investigation findings were put to her. She decided on the balance of probabilities that Ms Ryan had committed gross misconduct, with immediate dismissal given as a sanction on September 15, 2023, the WRC heard. The tribunal was told the sanction was upheld on appeal by a senior manager.
