Latest news with #GaryMiddleton
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Historic monument targeted in sectarian attack
A historic monument on Londonderry's Walls has been damaged by paint in what police are treating as a sectarian hate crime. The attack on Walker's Plinth happened sometime between 18:20 and 18:40 BST on Thursday. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) a number of individuals are believed to have been involved. It is the latest in a series of incidents in the city over recent days, which are being investigated as sectarian hate crimes. Democratic Unionist Party MLA Gary Middleton has said the spate of attacks needs to stop. "The sectarianism happening right across this city needs to end," he told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme. "As I said in the assembly chamber on Monday, this will ultimately end in somebody being seriously injured or a death." The attack on the plinth comes after an assault on two teenagers in the Waterside, an attack on a bus in the Gobnascale area and an attack on a mural in the Fountain estate. Those incidents sparked calls from the Catholic Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown and Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe Andrew Forster for no further escalation. The SDLP MLA Mark H. Durkan said he was "sickened" by the attack on the teenagers and Sinn Fein councillor Christopher Jackson appealed for calm. Then, shortly after midnight on Monday, a 21-year-old autistic man was set upon by a group of men in the city's Waterside and needed hospital treatment for his injuries. "We have seen young people attacked, property damaged, that is something that just can not be tolerated, it is important that all of us collectively speak out," Middleton added. "Police have assured me they are putting in the resources necessary to try and address what has been unfortunately over the last number of days a sectarian campaign right across the board." The city's deputy Mayor Darren Guy works in the Siege Museum near the plinth. He told BBC Radio Foyle a video being circulated on social media appeared to show six or seven youths approaching the monument with bottles filled with paint. The Ulster Unionist councillor also called for an end to the attacks. "This has to stop," he said. "When sides goad each other, no one comes out a winner, something serious is going to happen." Police have appealed for anyone with information about the incident on the Walls to come forward. The plinth is located on an area of the Walls overlooking the nationalist Bogside. It is all that remains of the statue of George Walker, built in 1826 to commemorate his role in the Siege of Derry. Reverend Walker governed the city during the 1689 siege. The statue stood on the plinth for almost 150 years until it was blown up by the IRA in 1973. It was also targeted in a similar attack in July 2024. Son 'scared to return home' after sectarian attack Church leaders appeal for calm over Derry attacks
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Derry's Walls: Walker's Plinty targeted in sectarian attack
A historic monument on Londonderry's Walls has been damaged by paint in what police are treating as a sectarian hate attack on Walker's Plinth happened sometime between 18:20 and 18:40 BST on Thursday. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) a number of individuals are believed to have been is the latest in a series of incidents in the city over recent days, which are being investigated as sectarian hate crimes. Democratic Unionist Party MLA Gary Middleton has said the spate of attacks needs to stop."The sectarianism happening right across this city needs to end," he told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme."As I said in the assembly chamber on Monday, this will ultimately end in somebody being seriously injured or a death." The attack on the plinth comes after an assault on two teenagers in the Waterside, an attack on a bus in the Gobnascale area and an attack on a mural in the Fountain estate. Those incidents sparked calls from the Catholic Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown and Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe Andrew Forster for no further SDLP MLA Mark H. Durkan said he was "sickened" by the attack on the teenagers and Sinn Fein councillor Christopher Jackson appealed for shortly after midnight on Monday, a 21-year-old autistic man was set upon by a group of men in the city's Waterside and needed hospital treatment for his injuries. 'Sectarian campaign' "We have seen young people attacked, property damaged, that is something that just can not be tolerated, it is important that all of us collectively speak out," Middleton added."Police have assured me they are putting in the resources necessary to try and address what has been unfortunately over the last number of days a sectarian campaign right across the board." The city's deputy Mayor Darren Guy works in the Siege Museum near the told BBC Radio Foyle a video being circulated on social media appeared to show six or seven youths approaching the monument with bottles filled with Ulster Unionist councillor also called for an end to the attacks."This has to stop," he said. "When sides goad each other, no one comes out a winner, something serious is going to happen."Police have appealed for anyone with information about the incident on the Walls to come forward. What is Walker's Plinth on Derry's Walls? The plinth is located on an area of the Walls overlooking the nationalist is all that remains of the statue of George Walker, built in 1826 to commemorate his role in the Siege of Walker governed the city during the 1689 statue stood on the plinth for almost 150 years until it was blown up by the IRA in was also targeted in a similar attack in July 2024.
Irish Examiner
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Police attacked with petrol bombs after dissident republican parade in Derry
Police have been attacked with petrol bombs and fireworks after a dissident republican parade in Derry. A senior police officer said young people were used to 'shield the masked individuals' during the disorder in what she said was 'child criminal exploitation'. Two men, aged 30 and 55, were arrested under the Terrorism Act and taken to Musgrave Street Station for questioning. A van and a number of items were also seized. The annual parade in Derry, which marks the Easter Rising against British rule in Dublin in 1916, involved a colour party of men carrying flags and wearing paramilitary-style uniforms with their faces covered. The march, which started in the Creggan estate, concluded with speeches at Free Derry corner in the Bogside area of the city. Nearby, a crowd of mostly young people threw several petrol bombs and fireworks at police vehicles stationed close to the city's historic walls overlooking the Bogside. The area was closed to the public for a period during the disorder. The dissident republican event has sparked similar scenes of violence in previous years. In a change of approach from recent years, the organisers of the parade – the National Republican Commemoration Committee – had applied to the Parades Commission for permission for the Easter Monday event. In its determination allowing the march to proceed, the commission explicitly prohibited the wearing of paramilitary-style clothes and flags linked to proscribed organisations. Chief Superintendent Gillian Kearney, area commander of Derry City & Strabane, called the involvement of young people an 'utterly shameful' attempt to distract and shield masked individuals. 'Despite the claim by organisers of today's Easter Monday parade who said they wanted to hold a dignified commemoration, what we saw was the complete opposite,' she said. 'From the commencement of the parade to when it dispersed, we saw masked individuals, which we believe at this time to be a breach of the Parades Commission determination. 'As these masked individuals made their way towards the dispersal point on Lecky Road, disorder developed in the area of Nailors Row from around 2.50pm. 'Petrol bombs, fireworks and masonry were thrown which resulted in nearby Bishop Street (Without) being closed for a time for public safety reasons. 'Members of the public were diverted away from that area in the City Walls. 'This disorder involving young people was orchestrated. We have no doubt about this. 'Young people were shamelessly and deliberately used in an attempt to distract from and shield the masked individuals as they took cover in a gazebo following the parade in the area of St Joseph's Place to change out of their parade clothing. 'This is child criminal exploitation. It is utterly shameful.' The DUP has called for police action following the parade. The party's MLA for Foyle Gary Middleton said: 'I am deeply concerned by today's republican parade in Londonderry, which blatantly defies the Parades Commission's determination. 'The display of paramilitary-style uniforms, proscribed flags and symbols associated with terrorism is not only provocative to the people of this city who want to move forward in peace, but also outside the law.' He said the event represented a 'glorification of terror and a rejection of the democratic path'. 'It is unacceptable that, in 2025, we are still witnessing such public displays of hatred and division,' he added. 'The PSNI have monitored this parade but their action must not stop at that. There must be charges and prosecutions for any breaches of the law. Those who flout legal rulings and glorify terrorism must face the consequences. 'Londonderry deserves better. The vast majority of people, from all backgrounds, want a peaceful future free from the shadow of violence. We stand with them.' Read More Man arrested on suspicion of murder after woman stabbed to death in London
ITV News
21-04-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Police attacked with petrol bombs in Londonderry following dissident Republican parade
Petrol bombs have been thrown at PSNI Land Rovers during a dissident Republican parade linked to the New IRA in Londonderry. The disturbances broke out after a colour party dressed in paramilitary style uniform marched from Creggan to an Easter Commemoration in the Bogside. Up to 200 people took part in the parade which was accompanied by masked youths armed with petrol bombs. Many appeared to be of primary school age. The policing operation along the route of the parade was low key, with the PSNI observing from a distance and from the air. It's understood the trouble is in the Nailors Row area beside the City Walls and close to care home for elderly people. The parade was criticised by the DUP. 'I am deeply concerned by today's republican parade in Londonderry, which blatantly defies the Parades Commission's determination,' said Foyle MLA Gary Middleton. 'The display of paramilitary-style uniforms, proscribed flags, and symbols associated with terrorism is not only provocative to the people of this city who want to move forward in peace but also outside the law. 'This event, organised by individuals linked to the New IRA, represents a glorification of terror and a rejection of the democratic path. It is unacceptable that, in 2025, we are still witnessing such public displays of hatred and division. 'The PSNI have monitored this parade but their action must not stop at that. There must be charges and prosecutions for any breaches of the law. Those who flout legal rulings and glorify terrorism must face the consequences. 'Londonderry deserves better. The vast majority of people, from all backgrounds, want a peaceful future free from the shadow of violence. We stand with them.'
BBC News
17-02-2025
- BBC News
Lononderry: Police treat damage to car as sectarian hate crime
Police are treating damage caused to a car in Londonderry as a sectarian hate crime. Slogans were engraved into the paintwork of a parked vehicle in the Waterside area of the city. It is understood to have happened at about 01:00 GMT on Sunday and was reported to police just after 08: have appealed for anyone with information about the incident to come forward. 'Disgusting attack' DUP assembly member Gary Middleton condemned those behind the "disgusting attack".In a statement posted to social media, Mr Middleton said there was "no place for intimidation, sectarianism or vandalism within our communities".In a post on Facebook, Ulster Unionist councillor Darren Guy said a woman who has lived in the area all her life woke up to "totally unacceptable vandalism to her vehicle".
