03/11/2003

Emergency services attacked in separate incidents

Emergency services have been attacked by gangs of youths in both Belfast and Co Armagh over the weekend.

In west Belfast, an ambulance was damaged after a group of youths attacked the vehicle as it left the scene an emergency on the Stewartstown Road shortly after midnight on Sunday.

Bricks, missiles and bottles were thrown at the vehicle as it left the area.

The back window of the vehicle was smashed and showered glass into the interior, where a patient lay ill, however no one was injured.

Elsewhere, firefighters came under attack on Friday night in Bessbrook and Newtownhamilton.

Newry and Armagh Ulster Unionist Assembly candidate Danny Kennedy condemned those involved in the incidents and called on parents to take more responsibility for their children's actions.

“It makes many people angry that Fire Brigade personnel should be targeted by these hooligans as they respond to emergency calls," Mr Kennedy said.

“I am concerned that there seemed to be a distinct lack of parental control in all of this and that is important to highlight. Parents of young people must be more active in knowing where their children are going and what they are doing.

"They simply cannot let them out and show no interest in taking responsibility for them," he added.

(MB)

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