Graveyard Altercation Leads To Weapons Seizure

An incident at a County L'Derry graveyard over the weekend led to the discovery of a haul of weapons, it has emerged.

Two loaded shotguns, knives, blades and suspected acid were seized on the Altinure Road in Park on the morning of Saturday 02 February.

Police said a crowd of over 200 people had gathered in the village ahead of a planned church event when a confrontation of "community tensions" took place.

Officers deployed batons when those tensions escalated but there were "no reports of injuries and no arrests".

Chief Inspector Alan Hutton said: "As tensions between two groups escalated, it was necessary for officers to intervene and use minimal force including the use of their batons, given the number of people involved.

"There were no reports of any injuries and no arrests were made at the time.

"Following a pre-planned search of the area earlier in the morning, a number of items were seized including two loaded shotguns, a quantity of ammunition, a number of knives and blades, as well as a liquid believed to be acid."

Sinn Fein MLA Caoimhe Archibald said her party has been working in the area to offer reassurances to the community following the altercation.

"The local community of Park are very concerned about this incident," the representative for east Derry commented.

"They were shocked to hear weapons including two loaded shotguns and knives were recovered from a graveyard on Saturday.

"There is absolutely no place for these weapons in society and particularly a place regarded by local people as sacred."

The Sinn Fein MLA added that the incident is believed to be connected to an ongoing feud, and had the potential to be a lot more serious.

"Sinn Féin party representatives have been actively involved in meetings with the police and the council in an effort to lower tensions and reassure the local community," Ms Archibald continued.

Police enquiries into the incident are ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police using the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 278 of 2/2/19.

Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.



(JG/CM)