Man charged with riotous behaviour after Ballymena disorder
A 29-year-old man has been charged with riotous behaviour after being arrested during disorder in Ballymena on Monday night.
The man, who is due to appear before Ballymena Magistrates' Court on Thursday July 3, has also been charged with disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police.
The scenes of violence in Ballymena which left 15 police injured were described as 'racist thuggery' by a senior officer.
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the force would have a significant operation in place over the coming days in case there was any repeat of the disturbances on Monday night in the Co Antrim town.
He said: 'We are actively working to identify those responsible for last night's racially-motivated disorder in Ballymena and bring them to justice.
'Anyone who has information or who can help identify those responsible is asked to contact police on 101.'
The senior officer said other arrests are expected following the examination of video footage.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman described the events which saw police and ethnic minorities targeted as 'very concerning'.
At Clonavon Terrace, several houses had their windows smashed and two which suffered significant smoke damage remained sealed off on Tuesday.
The violence flared following an earlier peaceful protest in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the town at the weekend.
Two 14-year-old boys appeared in court on Monday charged with attempted rape. The charges were read to the teenagers by a Romanian interpreter.
On Tuesday, the PSNI said it had made a third arrest in connection with the incident and reiterated a public appeal for information.
Detective Inspector Olphert from the PSNI's public protection branch said: 'A 28-year-old man was arrested yesterday evening, Monday June 9.
'He has been unconditionally released from police custody following questioning.'
After the later protest turned violent, police were attacked with petrol bombs and masonry.
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the attacks should be 'loudly condemned by all right-thinking people'.
'Any attempt to justify or explain it as something else is misplaced,' he said at a press conference at Ballymena police station.
He said that members of the minority ethnic community 'felt fear' and there will be a significant policing operation in the town in the coming days to reassure the community.
'I would strongly urge anyone who was involved in yesterday's disorder to reflect long and hard about their actions, they will have consequences,' he said.
Mr Henderson said that police officers from England and Wales will be brought to Northern Ireland if needed to help the PSNI in the wake of the Ballymena disorder.
He said: 'Should I need any additionality, I'm absolutely assured that my colleagues in policing in England and Wales, the National Police Operation Centre, stand fast and ready to support should we need that support.'
The senior officer said police did not have specific intelligence that there would be a repeat of the violent scenes, but said a significant policing operation would be in place.
A PSNI spokesperson said: 'At around 7.30pm, a planned vigil gathered in the Galgorm Road area before making its way towards Larne Street, onto Wakehurt Road and then down Queen Street.
'The vigil was initially peaceful as it made its way towards the Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena.
'Officers were present at the vigil to ensure an appropriate and proportionate policing response, due to the large number of people who had gathered in the area.
'A number of masked individuals then broke away from the vigil and began to build barricades, stockpiling missiles and attacking properties in the Clonavon Terrace area.
'Elements of the crowd then turned on to police and attacked officers with petrol bombs and masonry.
'This disorder was sustained and continued in the vicinity of Galgorm Street, Linenhall Street and Larne Road Link in the vicinity of the Braid.'
The statement added: ' Police officers came under sustained attack over a number of hours with multiple petrol bombs, fireworks, heavy masonry and bricks thrown in their direction by masked rioters.
'Fifteen officers were injured with some requiring hospital treatment.
'Two police vehicles were also damaged during the disorder.
'A number of homes and businesses were damaged with windows and doors smashed. Four houses were damaged by fire with three people evacuated.
'The attacks on these properties are being investigated as racially-motivated hate attacks.
'Windows were also smashed of several business units in Galgorm Parks in the early hours.
'In total, six properties in Clonavon Terrace have sustained damage to windows and doors during the disorder.
'During the course of the serious disorder, authorised police officers discharged one attenuating energy projectile (AEP) with one rioter struck.'
As part of ongoing inquiries, police are also investigating a report of arson at the Tobar Park area of Cullybackey in the early hours of Tuesday.
Shortly after 12.20am, it was reported that a petrol bomb had been thrown at a vehicle in the area which set it alight.
Damage was caused to a nearby property, with a woman and two children inside.
Downing Street said there could be no justification for the violence in Ballymena.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The disorder we saw in Ballymena is very concerning.
'Obviously, the reports of sexual assault in the area are extremely distressing, but there is no justification for attacks on police officers while they continue to protect local communities.
'PSNI and the justice system must be allowed to carry out their jobs and our thoughts are with the victims of the assault as well as the police officers who were injured.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Western Telegraph
19 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
Lyons insists he will not resign following criticism of social media post
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 on Wednesday night and set it on fire. Prior to the fire, Mr 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'. 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 Gordon Lyons Mr Lyons' post 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.' He added: 'It has now been confirmed to us by the PSNI and council that all these individuals are in the care of the Housing Executive and have been moved out of Larne. 'Protesting is of course a legitimate right but violence is not and I would encourage everyone to remain peaceful.' Some politicians have said Mr Lyons should be considering his position and Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said it was not helpful to publicise where people had been moved. Mr 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. '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. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said he would not resign (Liam McBurney/PA) '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.' Mr 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.' Mr 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.' Matthew O'Toole, leader of the opposition in the Northern Ireland Assembly, said he would refer Mr Lyons' social media post to the standards commissioner. Alliance Party MLA Danny Donnelly said there had been a 'huge attack' in Larne. He added: 'If I was the minister I would be considering my position. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said the minister's comments were not helpful (Ben Whitley/PA) '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 Mr 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.
The Sun
24 minutes ago
- The Sun
Cannabis-smoking nursery worker who ‘punched, grabbed & pinched 23 crying babies' moans ‘I'd moody if I couldn't vape'
A NURSERY worker who allegedly punched, grabbed and pinched 23 babies would get "moody" if she couldn't vape at work, a court heard. Roksana Lecka allegedly left the children with scratches to their faces and necks and pinch marks on their inner legs and stomachs. 4 The 22-year-old is accused of "badly harming" the tots over a six month period while working at the Riverside Nursery in Twickenham, South West London. The nursery, which charges up to £1,900 a month to look after children aged between 18 months and two years, follows the Montessori method of teaching. Lecka told Kingston Crown Court how she would "smoke cannabis quite regularly with my boyfriend", Mail Online reports. She said: "At that time I was really addicted to vapes, I would smoke two little crystal disposables a day. "I was vaping in nursery. Because if I did not smoke I would get agitated and fed up. I couldn't keep asking to go to the toilet. Any opportunity I would take. I would be really moody and fed up. 'It would be a couple of puffs and then I'd put it away… I would put it in my bra." She also told the court how she was "so tired" at the time and was not getting any sleep. Lecka claimed she was "addicted" to her boyfriend so was "over-prioritising" him. Her lawyer also claimed she was "worn out, had bad period pains, was short of energy, she was not her normally bubbly self". But prosecutor Tracy Ayling KC told jurors that smoking cannabis and not being able to vape were "excuses" for the alleged offences. She added: "It is clear her actions are deliberate or at the very last careless, but on most occasions we say deliberate. "There are, of course, some clips where Ms Lecka - as we put it - keeps going back for more." Jurors have been told 23 of the children were harmed at the nursery, while a 24th count of child cruelty refers to an offence that allegedly took place before Lecka started. The court also heard how there were no apparent safeguarding issues when Lecka was hired. But last summer, CCTV of the baby room appeared to show the worker pinch a child - leaving them with red marks, it was said. In footage played to the court, Lecka can also apparently be seen pinching the legs, back and under arm of a girl who can be seen crying. Further footage allegedly showed her pinching the side of a girl's face and grabbing her hair. Lecka can be seen vaping in another clip before she took a baby from a crib and pinched and punched her side, jurors heard. One alleged victim was sat at a table when Lecka repeatedly pinched her - causing the girl to cry, it was said. She then allegedly grabbed the girl by the arm and pulled her hair so her head made contact with the table. The court heard Lecka was "looking around" at other members of staff to see who was "watching when these assaults occur". One colleague reported seeing the worker assault a boy by pinching his legs - leading the headteacher to check CCTV. Jurors were told the footage showed Lecka also pinching his nose, body, wrist, and mouth. Police trawled through a month's worth of CCTV and discovered 23 babies had been "badly treated in some way", it was said. Lecka was arrested on July 5 last year and said in a prepared statement: "I deny assaulting any children at the Riverside Nursery…I went into work that day and had a normal day. There were no accidents where any child seemed hurt. "We have procedures for the handling of the children, which I adhered to. I am unaware how any injury to these children were caused." Lecka has admitted two charges of child cruelty but denies 21 further offences. The trial continues. 4 4
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Adored dad, 64, slipped & fell to his death from cliff while trying to save his dog on holiday in UK seaside resort
A DAD was killed as he tried to save his pet dog which had fallen over a steep cliff into the sea, an inquest heard. Gary Conlon, 64, was on holiday with his family in Cornwall when the tragic accident happened at Porth Joke beach at Crantock last October. An inquest at Cornwall coroner's court heard Gary had gone out with his dog called Monty for a morning walk while the rest of the family got ready to go to Padstow for breakfast. But the coroner heard that witness Daniel Beesley saw a man on the headland coastal path waving his arms saying that his dog had gone off the cliff into the water. In his statement Mr Beesley said he could see Monty swimming in the water and was "fine" but Gary took off his walking boots and socks as he edged along the loose shale. Mr Beesley said: "I shouted to him two or three times that it was too dangerous and that he would slip but he ignored me." He said Gary, who ran his own electrical business, squatted down to look over the cliff and started to climb down. He had gone around 4ft when he slipped and fell - landing on a flat rock before hitting the water. Mr Beesley said Gary panicked, waving his arms, and tried to scramble to the rocks but was battered about by the strong waves and was swept into a cave. Pathologist Dr Tim Bracey said Gary, of Eccleshall, Staffordshire, died from cold water immersion and a chest wall injury, and he also had heart disease. His family had heard emergency services and a helicopter near to where they had their holiday apartment. They discovered that it was Gary who had been recovered from the sea but efforts to save him failed. Monty was rescued from the sea and taken to a vet's for treatment. Gary's wife of 43 years, Katrina said he was very fit for his age and had a "zest for life, had a wicked sense of humour and was the life and soul of the party". The couple had been on holiday with their daughter, her partner and their new born baby daughter and regularly visited Cornwall. Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and said Gary's boots and the dog lead were found at the top of the headland path. Officer said Gary had tried to 'slide down' the cliff when he fell - and that Monty was rescued alive from the sea. The assistant coroner for Cornwall Emma Hillson recorded a misadventure conclusion. 1
