First Minister says ‘criminal elements’ to blame for riots
Foster urges reopening of youth clubs to help end violence as children aged 13 are arrested
FIRST Minister Arlene Foster has said “malign and criminal elements” are to blame for whipping up young people involved in recent violence and disorder as she called for the immediate reopening of all youth clubs in a bid to bring an end to the rioting.
It was confirmed by the PSNI yesterday that nine more officers were injured as riot police intervened in an unlawful march of loyalists through Ballymena on Monday.
During the unrest, debris, including a wheelie bin, was thrown onto the M2 motorway, forcing its closure.
Violent scenes also erupted in Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey as youths threw petrol bombs and debris at police. Last night a crowd gathered to protest in Larne.
DUP leader Arlene Foster said the move to reopen youth clubs will get young people off the streets and away from “malign influences in our society”.
“I do absolutely accept that that is the case in a particular area of Northern Ireland, but South East Antrim UDA does not have rite in other parts of Northern Ireland, so there are concerns right across Northern Ireland,” she stated.
A total of 41 officers have now been injured during the rioting in some loyalist areas across Northern Ireland over the past week.
Police also confirmed that 10 arrests have been made because of the disturbances, including children as young as 13 and 14.
Those as young as 12 have also been involved in the chaos.
It came as Mrs Foster said she has no intention of speaking with Chief Constable Simon Byrne and again called for his resignation following the PSNI’S handling of Bobby Storey’s funeral.
On her stance that Mr Byrne should resign from his role, Mrs Foster said: “He needs to take responsibility for the actions that were taken by his senior command team [during the Storey funeral] because confidence has gone in his leadership and I think confidence has gone in the senior management team.”
The rioting follows the growing anger around the Northern Ireland Protocol and last week’s announcement by the PPS that 24 members of Sinn Fein will not be prosecuted for attending Storey’s funeral.
North Area Commander Chief Superintendent Davy Beck, said the PSNI understands “disaffected groups who are linked to criminality” have orchestrated a number of riots.
The Assembly will be recalled tomorrow to allow MLAS the chance to condemn the trouble, while Mr Byrne will deliver a report to the Policing Board on Wednesday to outline the disorder, injuries to officers and the PSNI’S assessment of the situation in a private briefing.
Mrs Foster spoke with a number of youth workers in areas such as Portadown and Londonderry yesterday in response to the rioting.
A spokesperson for the DUP told the Belfast Telegraph that Education Minister Peter Weir has tabled a paper to the Executive calling for the immediate reopening of youth services in Northern Ireland.
Justice Minister Naomi Long criticised unionist leaders after demanding Mr Byrne’s resignation and said they “have helped fan the flames”.
Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster’s Talkback, the Alliance Party leader described it as “entirely depressing” that young people could “end up with criminal records”.
“I think when you criticise as forcefully and recklessly, in some cases, as some have. When you accuse them [the PSNI] of two tier policing...you make them a lightning conductor for people’s anger,” added Ms Long.
Those involved in the rioting were also warned not to get sucked into “senseless” loyalist violence by Mr Beck.
“These are officers who leave their home, put on a uniform and who I think deserve to get home safe and well to their families,” he said during a briefing at PSNI headquarters. I would appeal to everyone of influence across the community to bring this senseless violence to a stop.”
He also appealed to “all people of influence” to help bring and end to the violence and thanked those who have done so.