Boyne gives way to Battle of the Bonfire

A firefighter and a police officer on alert in Carrickfergus. Photo by Kevin Scott/Presseye.

 

By Anthony Neeson

Feuding loyalists went on the rampage in a County Antrim housing estate at the weekend – over the ownership of Twelfth of July bonfires.

A 46-year-old man was charged with riotous behavior and a 36-year-old man with causing a dangerous article to be on a road during rioting in Carrickfergus on Friday night.

Police say men were armed with hammers during the fighting while they seized a crossbow.

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A police spokesperson said: “Reports suggested some of the males were masked and may have been armed with weapons such as hammers.

“Officers attended and dispersed the crowd seizing a number of items including a crossbow.”

Tensions between the UDA and UVF have been high in Carrickfergus recently following a paramilitary attack when a man was shot in both legs.

On Friday, the violence broke out after one faction set fire to another’s bonfire.

Superintendent Emma Bond said police had to deal with a serious incident involving a “large crowd.”

The violence took place after a Somme Commemoration in the staunchly unionist town.

DUP Assemblyman Gordon Lyons said he was disgusted that the violence should take place after the remembrance service.

“I utterly condemn the disorder,” he said.

“I, along with many others, had been at the castle for a service of remembrance for the Battle of the Somme when news filtered through that these activities were taking place in Castlemara (estate).

“The people of Carrickfergus do not want to see these sorts of activities, and particularly not as we gather to remember those who gave their lives for this country at the battle of the Somme.”

He added: “We were at a place that people do not want to see. I would urge people to stay calm and think about what they are doing – this sort of thing is not on.”

 

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