Glentoran Firework Attack Pair 'Left Shaken'

A soccer team's coach was almost kicked into touch last night when a firework hit the Glentoran players' coach.

Medical staff immediately treated him after it was hurled near his team's dugout by a Portadown fan.

He has since said action needs to be taken to prevent it happening again.

Pete Batey was speaking after the incident at the Oval in east Belfast.

Also, Glentoran's goalkeeping coach, David McClelland, was knocked to the ground as the firework blew a contact lens out of one eye.

"The firework went off in my ear and it bounced and hit David in the eye and neck," Mr Batey said.

"I had ringing in my ears and David went down on the floor.

The Alliance East Belfast MP Naomi Long has expressed her shock after two members of the Glentoran coaching staff were injured when a firework exploded in their dugout in the Oval stadium during a match tonight.

She said that both men were later given the all clear by medical staff but were severely shaken.

Naomi Long MP said: "I am shocked and outraged at this attack. I do not know what could possess somebody to throw a firework in the direction of another person.

"Fireworks are extremely dangerous and if not handled correctly then they can have the potential to severely injure or even kill.

"We can only be thankful that the two Glentoran staff members were only shaken by this incident and not worse.

"I hope that these two staff will be able to make a quick recovery from what must have been a traumatic and frightening experience," she said.

"Legislation was bought to the Assembly last year by the Justice Minister David Ford who saw the importance of increasing the punishments for offences by spectators such as we have seen tonight.

"If any of the Portadown fans witnessed this incident then I would urge them to contact the police.

"This firework could have gone off in their section of the stadium and might have severely injured a number of fans if it was thrown from a crowded part of the ground," she added.

Not Sporting Behaviour

This afternoon, the NI Sport Minister Carál Ní Chuilín also condemned the firework attack during a match between Glentoran and Portadown.

"I am appalled by reports of disturbances, including fireworks thrown, by some spectators attending last night's game between Glentoran and Portadown.

"I express my sincere sympathy to anyone who may have been hurt as a result. Such behaviour is totally unacceptable at a football match and I would call on organisers of the game to ensure the matter is fully investigated and all action taken to prevent a reoccurrence of such incidents in the future.

"I also expect the organisers to co-operate fully in any PSNI investigation of disturbances in and around this match," she concluded.

(BMcC/GK)