DUP Call For Investigation Into Thatcher Parties

DUP North Down MLA Peter Weir has has written to Chief Constable Matt Baggot to ask that street 'celebrations' over the death of Margaret Thatcher be investigated.

Celebrations have been seen in west Belfast and parts of L'Derry since the former UK Prime Minister passed away on Monday, following a series of short strokes. She was 87.

She has already been described as the most divisive Prime Minister in British history, with many lauding her contribution to rebuilding post-war Britain and her stance on trade unions, and others criticising the introduction of the poll-tax, the Falklands war and her removal of free milk from schools.

Celebrations have occurred across the UK and Ireland, notably in Glasgow, Brixton, Bristol and parts of Northern Ireland.

Mr Weir has asked for an assurance that any breaches of the law will be pursued by the PSNI.

"A small minority of people have engaged in so-called 'celebrations' following the death of Baroness Thatcher," he said.

"These have been deeply sickening and beneath contempt, but such events in and of themselves are unlikely to constitute a criminal offence.

"I have written to the Chief Constable however in relation to the fact that reports of these events have indicated that roads were blocked, which is a clear breach of the criminal law. Whether loyalists, republicans or anyone else blocks a road the police have a duty to pursue these crimes.

"Should the PSNI require a formal complaint against such actions to trigger an investigation, then my letter can constitute such a complaint. The arrest and prosecution of a number of loyalist protestors in recent months has been well documented and I have sought an assurance from the Chief Constable that arrests and prosecutions will be similarly pursued in this case."

The DUP's William Humphrey, Private Secretary for the Department for Social Development, said: "On Tuesday evening a large motor cavalcade travelled from Poleglass to the Divis area of Lower Falls with tricolours waving and horns blaring, in celebration of the death of Thatcher. Several people from the unionist community have reported inadvertently coming across this cavalcade when travelling through the Falls area, becoming fearful for their safety and having to make a rapid u-turn. All have expressed alarm at the lack of any PSNI presence in the vicinity of this rally and have contrasted this with what happens if such a large gathering occurs within a Protestant area.

"On the Cliftonville Road a banner was erected stating 'Thatcher Rot In Hell'. This was in place for over two days, within a hundred yards of Belfast Royal Academy. This is sick gloating at the death of an elderly woman.

"All of these, and other similar incidents, show an appalling and ghoulish lack of common decency," he added.

(IT/CD)