Cyclist is kicked off his bike and attacked during ‘vicious assault’
A “SAVAGE” assault on a young male cyclist who was kicked off his bike in Belfast city centre has sparked calls for more police on the beat.
The victim, aged in his 20s, was kicked and punched as he lay on the road on the corner of Waring Street and Victoria Street at around 2.30pm yesterday.
He was treated for head injuries at the scene, but refused to allow paramedics to take him to hospital.
Two men, aged 22 and 28, were arrested on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.
Last night they continued to be questioned by detectives in Musgrave custody suite.
Belfast councillor Jim Rodgers said there is no known motive for the attack.
“This young cyclist was very badly injured,” he said.
“It is absolutely unbelievable that this has happened.
“It is just horrific and very unusual for a cyclist to be targeted like this.”
Mr Rodgers warned that the THE DUP said one of its MLAs has learned a “salient lesson” after giving her backing to an LGBT event at Stormont — and that no one in the party will co-sponsor it in the future.
It comes after a video emerged of a drag queen shouting “Up the f ****** queers” in Stormont’s Great Hall during last weekend’s Alternative Queer Ulster event.
Prior to the event, TUV leader Jim Allister raised concerns in the Belfast Telegraph about the appearance of drag queen Electra (28), who wore a tiara coated with dried HIV-infected blood to Belfast Pride 2016.
Footage of last Saturday night’s event shows Electra making derogatory remarks relating to Mr Allister.
At the end of her speech, she shouts “Up the f ****** queers” into the microphone while punching the air.
The speech took place in front of around 180 people at the event, organised by the Queer Greens.
The video has been viewed over 43,000 times on social media.
The event was co-sponsored by the DUP’s North Belfast MLA Paula Bradley and Sinn Fein’s Newry and Armagh MLA Megan Fearon, with South Belfast Green Party MLA Clare Bailey as the main sponsor.
Ms Bailey was the only sponsor to attend.
Outgoing Green Party leader Steven Agnew and Alliance MLA John Blair were also present, while UUP MLA Mike Nesbitt attended but left early due to another engagement.
Reacting to the video, Mr Allister challenged the DUP over whether they would support similar events in future.
Mr Allister said: “Before this event took place, I challenged the suitability of this speaker to address a gathering at Stormont given his track record.
“The speaker’s repeated use of language which cannot be printed or broadcast underscore number of violent attacks in and around the city is on the rise.
“The number of assaults are definitely increasing, but this one was particularly savage,” he said.
“We all need to exercise extreme vigilance because sadly there are evil and dangerous people in our society who are capable of doing this.”
The UUP representative condemned those responsible and urged anyone with information to contact police.
He also expressed concern over a declining police presence on our streets.
“Unfortunately the visibility of police officers on the beat has decreased over many years,” he that those concerns were well-grounded. Given that sponsors are responsible for these events I would challenge those who facilitated it, particularly the DUP MLA and her party, to spell out why this event took place.
“The capacity of the speaker to act as he did on Saturday was well-known in advance.
Police at the scene of the serious assault in Waring Street
said. There’s great detective work going on and they are making arrests.
“Why therefore did it go ahead and are the DUP happy to help facilitate similar events in future?”
In response, the DUP said no one from the party would co-sponsor the event in future and that Paula Bradley had learned a “salient lesson”.
The DUP said: “Comments made at this event were disgraceful
“Maybe more visibility would deter criminals but there’s no guarantee of course.” and not at all respectful. Paula Bradley co-sponsored the event without knowing many details about the event. She was not acting on behalf of the party and has learned a salient lesson.
“Neither Paula nor anyone else from the party would act as a co-sponsor for such an event in the future. The Assembly Commission may wish to review the
Botanic councillor Declan Boyle said his thoughts are with the victim.
“This is altogether appalling and I just hope this man makes a full and speedy recovery,” he said.
“This unbelievable act of violence would have shocked those who witnessed it, but you can only imagine what was going through this young man’s mind as he was kicked off his bicycle.
“How on earth was he meant to defend himself ?”
The independent representative also noted declining police numbers and called on the PSNI to deploy more resources in the city centre.
“Greater visibility is needed event alongside the Assembly’s protocols for using the building.”
DUP MLA Jim Wells, who had the party whip withdrawn following criticism of the leadership, said “people will be horrified” by Electra’s behaviour and claimed she had “done nothing but discredit the Assembly” and her cause.
Event organiser Mal O’Hara to deter this type of activity,” he said.
“You see a significant police presence in all other cities and sometimes that is all that is needed.
“There’s no point trying to bring tourists from all around the world if this is what they are going to see.”
Inspector David McBride appealed for witnesses of the “vicious assault” to come forward, particularly drivers with dash cams who were in the area at the time.
Anyone with information is asked to call us on the non emergency number 101, quoting reference number 754 of 06/08/18. previously said he hoped to hold the event annually.
He said: “The 22 speakers talked about their experiences as same-sex people. Some of the speakers were angry, some very funny and some were emotional. The event was intended to platform the experiences of our LGBTQ community.
“It was about listening to them — not dictating what they should or shouldn’t have said.”
An Assembly spokeswoman said the event had “fully conformed” to the requirement of the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission’s 2016 Events in Parliament Buildings and its grounds policy that all events and tours with hospitality “must be sponsored by at least three members to reflect cross designation support”.
Sinn Fein said: “Sinn Fein will continue to support events organised by the LGBTQI+ community and the campaign for rights including an end to the denial of marriage equality.”