Three arrested after Irish Cup Final disorder in Belfast as eight PSNI cops attacked
THREE people have been arrested after the disorder occurred during the Irish Cup Final at the National Stadium in Belfast yesterday.
During the Cliftonville and Dungannon Swifts match, it was reported that items were thrown at police officers.
Some eight officers were injured during the course of the policing operation.
Three arrests were made during the disorder, with two for "disorderly behaviour" while the other was an arrest of a juvenile for "possession of a flare".
Five cautions were also issued for the possession of fireworks, which will be followed up with reports to the Public Prosecution Service.
READ MORE ON NEWS
Police remained in the area to maintain the situation and prevent any further escalation during the
Mark Conway,
'Items were thrown at police and at least eight officers were injured during the course of the policing operation, although all remained on duty.
"Police remained in the area to monitor the situation and prevent any further escalation.
Most read in Irish News
'Three arrests were made in total, including two for disorderly behaviour, and one arrest of a juvenile for possession of a flare.
'Five cautions were also issued for possession of fireworks and will be followed up with reports to the Public Prosecution service.
PSNI chief slams 'hateful and criminal behaviour' from 'far-right' 'thugs' in Belfast
'The vast majority of fans were there to enjoy the match however we will not tolerate disruption, disorder or criminal behaviour of any kind.
"As always we will continue to work with football clubs to address any criminal activity linked to people attending matches and ensure that supporters are kept safe."
STABBING INCIDENT
Separately, an urgent appeal has been issued for witnesses following a stabbing at the Glenavon Football and Athletic Club in Lurgan, Co
The police received a report of the stabbing incident just after midnight this morning.
Arriving at the scene, the 18-year-old man was taken to the
An 18-year-old man has been arrested and remains in custody.
Detective Sergeant Stewart said: "We know there were a lot of people in the Club around the time of the incident, so are asking for anyone who might have information that could help us with our enquiries to call police on 101, quoting reference 04 of 04/05/25."
A report can also be made online using their non-emergency reporting form on the PSNI website.
Alternatively, they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online on their official Crimestoppers website.
1
The PSNI have arrested three men over the disorder incident
Credit: PA:Press Association
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Post
2 hours ago
- Irish Post
Leisure centre torched and hatchet thrown at police in third night of riots
A LEISURE centre was set alight as riots continued in Northern Ireland last night. Nine police officers were injured in Ballymena, Co. Antrim as the disorder continued for a third consecutive evening. The Police Service of Northern Ireland has condemned the violence as 'completely unacceptable'. Disorder erupted in the town on the evening of Monday, June 9 following a peaceful protest organised after the alleged sexual assault of a local teenage girl by two teenage boys. The violence has continued every night since, with a number of people arrested after houses were ransacked, cars were set on fire and roads were blocked. PSNI officers have come under attack while policing the disorder. Last night officers once were hit with petrol bombs, heavy masonry, bricks and fireworks, the PSNI confirmed in a statement this morning. The hatchet thrown at officers during last night's riots A hatchet was also thrown at officers. 'Nine officers were injured – thankfully, none of our officers reported serious injuries – and remained on duty,' they added. The violence has spread outside of the Ballymena area. In Larne, a local leisure centre had been set alight in what police describe as a 'shameful arson attack'. 'Shockingly, people were inside the building at the time of this fire – thankfully no injuries were reported – and we could have been looking at a completely different situation,' they added. Further disruption was caused in the Marine Highway area of Carrickfergus, where masked protestors blocked local roads. Two men aged in their 20s and one in their 30s, along with two teenagers, were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and other offences last night. A teenager was also arrested in the Newtownabbey area in connection with disorder in the Station Road area. In Coleraine, police received reports that a bus had been attacked, and was prevented from entering the train station. A number of bins were also set alight on train tracks at the station - and petrol bombs were also thrown at officers – trains and bus services were also cancelled. Over the course of the night officers fired Attenuating Energy Projectiles (AEPs) and used water cannons to disperse the crowds. Calm was brought to the affected areas at 1am this morning, the PSNI confirm. 'Last night a significant policing operation was again required on our streets to deal with violent disorder,' Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said. 'This criminal behaviour has no place on the streets of Northern Ireland and is completely unacceptable. 'What we witnessed last night has caused fear and huge disruption within our communities, including to our local transport network and community services.' He added: 'Police officers came under attack from petrol bombs, fireworks and heavy masonry. 'A hatchet was also thrown at police lines during this disorder in a clear attempt to seriously injure our officers – and I thank them once again for their continued efforts putting themselves on the line keeping our streets safe.' The force is now working to identify all those responsible for the disorder. 'We made six arrests last night during this disorder and more will follow,' Asst Chf Con Henderson said. 'We are working hard to identify all those responsible in this criminal disorder, and those involved will be dealt with using the full force of the law,' he added. 'We are now in the process of gathering evidence, CCTV and other footage of yesterday's disorder, and anyone who has information or who can help identify those responsible is asked to contact police on 101. 'I would strongly urge anyone who was involved in yesterday's rioting and disorder to think long and hard about their actions and its impact. 'I would also appeal for calm voices and cool heads to reduce tensions.' See More: Antrim, Ballymena, PSNI, Riots
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Three teenagers charged with riot in Ballymena while leisure centre set alight in Larne in third night of violence
Three teenagers have been charged following public disorder in Ballymena . The three males, aged 15, 17 and 18 years have been charged with riot, while the 15-year-old has also been charged with criminal damage following scenes in the Co Antrim town on Tuesday night. They are to appear before Ballymena Magistrates' Court later. Meanwhile, two other teenage boys who were arrested during the disorder have been released on bail to allow for further police inquiries. READ MORE Police in Northern Ireland condemned a third consecutive night of 'completely unacceptable' disorder on Thursday morning. The violence began around Clonavon Terrace on Monday night following an earlier peaceful protest which was organised in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the area. Two teenage boys, who spoke to a court through a Romanian interpreter, have been charged. The PSNI said on Wednesday night in Ballymena their officers came under sustained attack with multiple petrol bombs, a hatchet, heavy masonry, bricks and fireworks thrown at them. Officers responded with water cannon, dogs and plastic baton rounds in an attempt to disperse crowds in the town. Nine officers were injured, while two men, aged in their 20s, and one in their 30s, along with two teenagers, were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and other offences in connection with the disorder on Wednesday. Police said officers discharged a number of Attenuating Energy Projectiles (AEPs) and the water cannon was deployed once again in an attempt to disperse and calm crowds. Police also responded to an attack on the local leisure centre in Larne. Larne Leisure Centre was targeted on Wednesday evening as a third night of unrest unfolds Masked protesters blocked local roads in the Marine Highway area of Carrickfergus, a teenager was arrested in Newtownabbey following disorder in the Station Road area and in Coleraine, a bus was attacked, bins were set alight on the train tracks and petrol bombs were thrown at police. They added that associated protests passed without incident in the Antrim and Lisburn areas, and there were mainly peaceful protests in Belfast. Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said there was a significant policing operation on Wednesday night. 'What we witnessed last night has caused fear and huge disruption within our communities, including to our local transport network and community services,' he said. 'Police officers came under attack from petrol bombs, fireworks and heavy masonry. 'A hatchet was also thrown at police lines during this disorder in a clear attempt to seriously injure our officers, and I thank them once again for their continued efforts putting themselves on the line keeping our streets safe. 'We made six arrests last night during this disorder and more will follow. We are working hard to identify all those responsible in this criminal disorder, and those involved will be dealt with using the full force of the law.' Earlier, Northern Secretary Hilary Benn described scenes as 'shocking', adding there is 'absolutely no justification for civil disorder'. He told the BBC 's Good Morning Ulster programme: 'This not what Northern Ireland is about, this is not what we want the rest of the world to see. 'We all, as elected representatives, have a responsibility to seek to calm things down, to support those in the community trying to keep people safe, principally the PSNI, to work with community leaders to lower tensions. 'Whatever views people hold, there is no justification for trying to burn people out of their homes, that is what is going on, and that is what needs to stop because it is shocking and damaging, and it reflects very badly of the image of Northern Ireland that we all want to send to the rest of the world.' A group of Filipino nationals have been forced to leave their Ballymena home amid ongoing violence in the town. Video: Reuters Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long said it has been a 'three-day festival of hate and destruction' which needs to stop before someone loses their life. She said she will be seeking additional funding for the PSNI in the June Monitoring Round. She also commended the PSNI for seeking support through a mutual aid request for additional officers from Great Britain. The Larne leisure centre had temporarily been used as an emergency shelter for those in urgent need following disturbances in Ballymena. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, who highlighted the use of the building in a social media post, said all those who had been staying at the leisure centre are in the care of the Housing Executive and have been moved out of Larne. Mr Lyons later said he would 'strongly hit back at any notion' that he had publicly revealed the facility was being used to house immigrant families who had been affected by violence in Ballymena. SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole, the leader of the opposition in the Northern Ireland Assembly, said he would refer Mr Lyons to the standards commission following the fire. In Ballymena on Wednesday, the PSNI deployed riot police for a third night in a row as hundreds gathered around the Clonavon Terrace area. At least one protester was struck by plastic baton rounds fired by police while officers also used a water cannon on the crowd. Officers used dog units and drones in their response to the gathering. Riot police with shields advanced on the crowd to disperse them down Bridge Street on to other roads. They came under sustained attack as those participating in disorder hurled petrol bombs, masonry and fireworks at police vehicles and officers standing nearby. Rioters smashed the windows of a house on North Street and set multiple fires on streets in the surrounding area. The disorder and stand-off with police continued past midnight. The PSNI have also noted scenes of disorder in Belfast, Lisburn, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey earlier in the week, as businesses, homes and cars were attacked and damaged. By Wednesday, six individuals had been arrested for public order offences, and one charged. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he 'utterly condemns' violence which left 32 police officers injured after the second night of disturbances. PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has warned the rioting 'risks undermining' the criminal justice process into an allegation of a sex attack on a teenage girl in Ballymena at the weekend. Stormont ministers have also made an urgent appeal for calm and said the justice process had to be allowed to take its course. First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly appeared together on Wednesday to voice their condemnation. Sinn Féin vice-president Ms O'Neill told reporters in Belfast: 'It's pure racism, there is no other way to dress it up.' Ms Little-Pengelly described the scenes in Ballymena as 'unacceptable thuggery'. With the protests focused in predominantly loyalist areas in Ballymena, Ms O'Neill said she did not believe it would be helpful for her to visit in the current context. DUP MLA Ms Little-Pengelly met residents in the town on Wednesday and said the local community are in fear and wanted the violence to stop. - Press Association
The Journal
2 hours ago
- The Journal
DUP minister says he won't resign amid backlash for 'reckless' post about Larne Leisure Centre
NORTHERN IRELAND'S COMMUNITIES Minister has insisted he will not resign following criticism of a social media post sent hours before an attack on Larne Leisure Centre. The DUP's Gordon Lyons said he would 'strongly hit back at any notion' that he had publicly revealed the facility was being used to house immigrant families who had been affected by violence in Ballymena. Masked youths attacked the leisure centre last night and set it on fire . Prior to the fire, Lyons posted on social media that the building had been used to accommodate several people following riotous behaviour in the town of Ballymena, which is 30 minutes away. Police said that ethnic minorities have been targeted in the violence which they have described as 'racist thuggery'. Lyons' post about the Leinster Centre said: 'As a local MLA for the area, neither I nor my DUP council colleagues were made aware or consulted on this decision until late this afternoon.' Facebook Facebook Some politicians have said Lyons should be considering his position and Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said it was not helpful to publicise where people had been moved. Benn said he felt Lyons 'might want to reflect on what he said'. Lyons was asked by the BBC Good Morning Ulster programme if he should still be in his job and replied: 'Absolutely.' He said: 'Let me set out the facts because it is clear that some don't know them. 'The leisure centre was used to temporarily house those who had been affected by the violence in Ballymena. Advertisement 'This had been confirmed yesterday publicly. It was in the public domain, it was on a news website and it had been confirmed by the council. 'My message was posted because rumours had been circulating that the leisure centre was to be turned into a permanent centre, the messages flying about that caravans were being brought into the car park there. 'A protest had already been planned at 7pm last evening. 'The PSNI was then in contact with one of our local councillors and they were keen that we highlight the fact that the leisure centre was no longer being used for this purpose, they wanted to stop the rumours that people were being permanently housed there and all of that was the catalyst for the protest. 'As a result of that, I posted a clarification that the centre had been used but that was temporary and was no longer being used for that purpose.' The Larne Leisure Centre after last night's violence. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Lyons said he believed it was right that public representatives should be consulted when emergency protocols are put in place. He said: 'I believe that information is key here so that rumours don't circulate around. 'I will very strongly hit back at any notion that I have revealed the use of this facility to the public when the protest was already planned, when everybody knew what was happening.' Benn said: 'If people have been forced out of their homes, they need to be taken to a place of safety and they need to be looked after because they will be traumatised and they will be frightened. 'I don't think it helps matters at all to publicise where they have been taken.' The SDLP's Matthew O'Toole, leader of the opposition in the Northern Ireland Assembly, said he would refer Lyons' social media post to the standards commissioner. The actions of the Communities Minister cannot be ignored. He is the Minister response for the Housing Executive and lives are at stake. Tomorrow the Opposition will refer him to the standards commissioner and explore all other options for accountability. — Matthew O'Toole (@MatthewOToole2) June 11, 2025 Alliance Party MLA Danny Donnelly said there had been a 'huge attack' in Larne. Related Reads Leisure centre in Larne set alight by rioters as violence extends beyond Ballymena PSNI seeks reinforcements from Britain as Starmer condemns 'mindless' Ballymena violence I went to talk to people in Ballymena, and was told to make myself 'scarce' or there'd be trouble He added: 'If I was the minister I would be considering my position. 'I think he should seriously consider his position. 'Highlighting the location of where immigrant families who had been burnt out were taken to a place of safety on social media was reckless and dangerous, and it certainly was a factor in that protest. 'The result we have had, the town has been attacked by a racist mob.' Sinn Fein MLA Colm Gildernew said Lyons' post was 'reckless and inflammatory'. He added: 'Leadership should show responsibility — not feed into the fear of the vulnerable.' Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said the leisure centre had been designated as an emergency rest centre for those in urgent need following disturbances in nearby Ballymena but the families had been safely relocated elsewhere. Police and firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control on Wednesday night. The fire in Larne coincided with a third night of public disorder in Ballymena. The violence began around Clonavon Terrace on Monday night following an earlier peaceful protest which was organised in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the area. Two teenage boys, who spoke to a court through a Romanian interpreter, have been charged.
