A large protest has taken place in Ballymena in Co Antrim after two suspects, aged 14, were charged with attempted oral rape on a teenage girl. The protest was followed by disorder in the town, and windows of a house were broken.
Last night, hundreds of people gathered in Ballymena at a protest in support of the girl and her family, marching along Larne Street and then Queen Street. The PSNI said that a serious sexual assault on a teenage girl in Clonavon Terrace had occurred in Ballymena on Saturday.
Yesterday morning, both suspects denied the charges of attempted oral rape of the girl, using a Romanian interpreter to confirmed their names and ages at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court.
Disorder apparently related to anger at the case broke out in the town last night, with BBC reporting that “youths with their faces masked and wearing gloves could be seen throwing masonry”.
A police car had what appeared to be two of its windows smashed. On Clonavon Terrace, which was blocked off on both ends by police Land Rovers, windows of a house had been smashed.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said a “number of missiles have been thrown towards police with damage reported to a number of properties”, adding “we are urging everyone to remain calm and to act responsibly. Violence and disorder will only place people at greater risk”. In an update today the PSNI added that the protest had begun peacefully, but that a number of masked individuals then broke away from the vigil and that in the resulting disorder four houses were damaged by fire, with three people evacuated. They said “the attacks on these properties are being investigated as racially motivated hate attacks.”
DUP MLA Paul Frew issued a statement on behalf of the girl’s family which said: “As a family we would like to let people know that we were no way involved or condone any trouble that happened after tonight’s peaceful protest.”
“We would again like to thank the people who came from far and wide to support us and ask that justice be served in the correct manner.”
In his own statement, Mr Frew said that: “The PSNI and statutory agencies need to urgently get to grips with the challenges arising in HMOs and the wider consequences of illegal immigration. These are sensitive but serious issues, and Government must not look the other way.”
The TUV’s Jim Allister had earlier described the alleged serious sexual assault as “shocking in all respects” and said that “an apparent overlap with immigration tensions” was an “added concern”.
“The serious sexual assault in Ballymena is shocking in all respects. The apparent overlap with immigration tensions is an added dimension of concern,” the MLA said.
He cautioned that “those commenting on social media should be careful not to prejudice the judicial process which must now bring justice to this situation. Meanwhile, my thoughts are very much with the young girl and her family.”
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston also extended his sympathy and raised concerns over both public safety and government spending:
“Once again Ballymena has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons after another young girl was sexually assaulted. My thoughts are with the girl at what must be a traumatic time.”
“Since being co-opted to Stormont I have constantly raised the concerns over immigration in Ballymena.”
“Over the last number of months I’ve also been pressing the Executive Office about its spending under the much-trumpeted Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy. I am baffled that so much of the funding from this programme appears to have been awarded to councils for grants, rather than the primary agency responsible for crime prevention – the PSNI.”
Gaston further expressed unease over the location of the assault: “I am glad to see the police have two people arrested and they are in custody but I’m very concerned that this attack took place on the doorstep of the station. The police need to be a visible presence within areas such as Clonavon to provide reassure to the public that this area of the town is safe,” he said.
Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister Naomi Long today said there can be “no justification” for such “appalling” scenes.
“I am absolutely appalled by the disturbing scenes in Ballymena yesterday evening during which PSNI officers were injured, residents terrorised, and properties damaged. There is absolutely no place in our society for such disorder and there can be no justification for it. I would appeal to those involved to seriously consider their actions and step back from this behaviour before someone is seriously injured or worse,” she said.
Providing an update today, the PSNI 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,” the police authority said.