Latest news with #Mid&EastAntrimPride
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Teen, 19, arrested over ‘hate crime' after slurry spread in Antrim town hours before first Pride parade
A TEENAGER has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after slurry was sprayed on a road in an Irish town in Co Antrim - hours before the town's first Pride parade. The The suspect was arrested on "suspicion of criminal damage" and possession of a blade/point. He remains in police custody at this time. The cops reported that the matter is "being treated as a hate The shocking incident occurred just hours before READ MORE ON LGBT+ The parade will kick off at 2pm and finish an hour later at Greenvale Street, among the affected areas. The route takes in Waveney Road, Galgorm Road, Lower Mill Street, Wellington Street, Broughshane Street, William Street and Ballymoney Street. The PSNI confirmed there will be an increased police presence to ensure everyone's safety during the event and urged everyone to follow the instructions of officers and respect others. They added: "We want members of our Most read in Irish News SDLP Councillor Seamas de Faoite has condemned the teen's "shameful" actions after the slurry was deliberately spread along the route of the parade. He said: "Let's be absolutely clear: this was a calculated attempt to intimidate the LGBTQ+ community and spoil what should be a day of joy, visibility and solidarity in Ballymena. Natasha O'Brien calls for hate crime legislation to be enacted at Dublin's Pride festival "But they failed. The hundreds of people who will turn out to support Mid & East Antrim Pride showed that love and inclusion will always outshine hate." 'FIGHTING FOR A SOCIETY THAT'S SAFE' Cllr de Faoite praised parade organisers and volunteers for their leadership and determination to ensure the parade continues, despite efforts to disrupt it. He added: "Today was a historic first for Ballymena, and the SDLP stands shoulder to shoulder with the LGBTQ+ community here and across the North, and we'll keep fighting for a society that's safe, equal and proud." Posting on social media, "Solidarity to all at Ballymena Pride. It's a frightening time but love will always triumph over hate." Eoin Tennyson MLA said: "Sending my support and solidarity to everyone attending Ballymena Pride today, after bigots spread slurry on the parade route. "At a time when hard-won rights are under attack, vigilance and visibility matter more than ever. Love will always trump hate." INFO PLEA The cops have urged people with information to come forward to assist their ongoing probe into the hate crime. The spokesperson said: " Anyone with information can contact police on 101, quoting reference number 191 of 28/06/25. " Alternatively, they can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form on their official website. They can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at 1 PSNI has arrested a 19-year-old man for his 'shameful' actions hours before the Pride parade Credit: Niall Carson/PA Wire
The Journal
8 hours ago
- The Journal
Man arrested after Ballymena 'spread with slurry overnight' ahead of town's first Pride parade
LAST UPDATE | 34 mins ago A MAN HAS BEEN arrested after slurry was spread on streets in Ballymena and shopfronts have allegedly been vandalised with spray paint ahead of a Pride parade that is due to take place in the Co Antrim town this afternoon. Business owners this morning opened their shutters on Ballymoney Street and Greenvale Street, close to the Town Centre shopping centre, to find that slurry had been spread up and down the roads overnight. Family-owned businesses and their staff are currently cleaning up the mess ahead of the town's first ever Pride parade this afternoon , which was due to finish up on Greenvale Street. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have said that one man, aged 19, was arrested this morning in connection with their investigation. Police said that the incident, which happened just before 3am this morning, is being treated as a hate crime. The 19-year-old was arrested after being accused of criminal damage and possession of a blade, the PSNI said. Local SDLP councillor Denise Johnston wrote on X: 'I am hearing that the town centre in Ballymena has been spread with slurry overnight ahead of the town's first Pride rally. The local businesses are currently cleaning it up.' Advertisement 'I am disgusted by those bigots who would commit such an act and hope they will have been caught on CCTV,' she added. Tánaiste Simon Harris has described the incident as a 'vile act'. 'Love is love,' he wrote in a post to social media. 'It's awful,' one Greenvale shop owner told The Journal . 'It's all up the lampposts as well.' Alliance leader Naomi Long posted to X this morning: 'I despair the mentality of those who spread slurry on the streets of their town motivated by hate and bigotry. Disgusting in every sense of the word.' Shop owners reported the incident to the police, it is understood. Poster for the first Pride Parade in Ballymena, which will take place this afternoon. Mid & East Antrim Pride Mid & East Antrim Pride Nicole, a manager of the K&G McAtamney Butchery & Deli on Ballymoney Street, said that when workers arrived at the car park this morning there was slurry the whole way from there to the butchers. 'It's all around the town from Ballymoney street to here, and it's particularly bad on Greenvale Street,' she said. 'The vendors here have been out all morning getting involved in cleaning it, including our workers.' Related Reads From less than a dozen marchers to tens of thousands: A history of Dublin Pride Nicole told The Journal : 'We don't understand what would compel somebody to do this and for it to coincide with our first pride event, which is a positive thing bringing people into the town, is just vile.' 'We're halfway up the street cleaning it now, and it's been all hands on deck, but it's been deeply unpleasant for our staff, and of course our customers.' Ballymena made headlines around the world after three nights of rioting earlier this month in which over 40 PSNI officers were injured. PSNI said the rioting erupted after a vigil to protest the alleged sexual assault in the town was 'hijacked' by 'racist thuggery'. Curtis Lee, the organiser of the Pride parade in Ballymena which will take place this afternoon, told The Journal: 'The committee's opinion was that, no matter what, we're going ahead with this because to cancel would be to give into fear.' There will be protests today from four evangelical Christian groups. One of the four groups protesting is United Christian Witness, and the other three are local church groups. With reporting by Eimer McAuley & Diarmuid Pepper Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
