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01/08/2008
TV Viewers Witness SF Man's Assault
TV viewers had a grandstand view as a Sinn Fein MLA was assaulted by men described as "dissident republican elements" yesterday.
A BBC TV crew was on hand to follow up an earlier attack on a local community representative's home when a car load of young men arrived and began abusing the MLA and others.
The MLA was attempting to quell a dispute over a bonfire commemoration of 1971 internment when the trouble erupted, as the cameras rolled.
Daithi McKay said he and a party colleague, Padraig McShane, suffered several punches to the head outside a house in Dunclug Park.
The trouble began early yesterday in the wake of a republican attack on the house of the Chairman of the Dunclug Housing Partnership in Ballymena.
The trouble was the latest incident in the fall-out over the decision of the local community association to cancel a bonfire.
Mr McKay said of the various incidents: "This has been carried out by anti-social elements within the area. People should be standing up to these people and we will be doing the same."
A large number of police officers and a helicopter were later deployed to help defuse the tense standoff at the Gordon family home - which lasted from 11pm on Wednesday until almost 2am yesterday.
There should be no shortage of witnesses as those responsible were clearly identifiable on the TV news coverage.
A police spokesman said: "At around 1.50pm we received a call to Dunclug Park about an assault on two members of Sinn Fein.
"We are investigating the allegations."
"Police believe the incident was a reaction by a small number of people in the area to a multi-agency approach to the removal of bonfire material.
"The material had been taken away at the request of resident associations and elected representatives. Attacks on property or individuals will not be tolerated and police will be robust in supporting the law-abiding majority and prosecuting offenders."
(BMcC)
A BBC TV crew was on hand to follow up an earlier attack on a local community representative's home when a car load of young men arrived and began abusing the MLA and others.
The MLA was attempting to quell a dispute over a bonfire commemoration of 1971 internment when the trouble erupted, as the cameras rolled.
Daithi McKay said he and a party colleague, Padraig McShane, suffered several punches to the head outside a house in Dunclug Park.
The trouble began early yesterday in the wake of a republican attack on the house of the Chairman of the Dunclug Housing Partnership in Ballymena.
The trouble was the latest incident in the fall-out over the decision of the local community association to cancel a bonfire.
Mr McKay said of the various incidents: "This has been carried out by anti-social elements within the area. People should be standing up to these people and we will be doing the same."
A large number of police officers and a helicopter were later deployed to help defuse the tense standoff at the Gordon family home - which lasted from 11pm on Wednesday until almost 2am yesterday.
There should be no shortage of witnesses as those responsible were clearly identifiable on the TV news coverage.
A police spokesman said: "At around 1.50pm we received a call to Dunclug Park about an assault on two members of Sinn Fein.
"We are investigating the allegations."
"Police believe the incident was a reaction by a small number of people in the area to a multi-agency approach to the removal of bonfire material.
"The material had been taken away at the request of resident associations and elected representatives. Attacks on property or individuals will not be tolerated and police will be robust in supporting the law-abiding majority and prosecuting offenders."
(BMcC)
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