Portacabin is removed from club

A FOOTBALL club has slammed the council for “vindictive overkill” in removing a portacabin from their grounds this morning.

Masked contractors backed by police shifted the structure that officials say had been placed by East Belfast FC on council-owned Tommy Patton Memorial Park without permission.

On Monday night at Belfast City Council’s full meeting, the decision was made to remove the building.

But in a statement, the club said the move was and “appalling invasion” of their football ground and “the most patently obvious example of vindictive overkill”.

It added: “They refused young people a community hub, using the excuse of the author of an email.”

East Belfast FC placed the portacabin on their ground at Inverary Avenue in 2017 without permission from the Council.

However, representations were then made by some councillors to have permission granted retrospectively.

It is understood Sinn Fein was unhappy loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson wrote in support of the club.

A Council spokesperson said: “A decision was taken by the People and Communities Committee to remove a temporary structure. It was in extremely poor condition.

“Before removal, an inventory of contents was taken and the contents returned to EBFC.”

SHIFT Contractors remove building from East Belfast FC MOVE OUT Portacabin hoisted onto a truck CLEAR UP Workmen had to hide their faces and were backed by police