Sunday 4 November 2012

RUC attack nationalists at bonfire in Newry

Press release from Joe Conway/Brendan Watters Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, Newry on November 1, 2012:

IT has been brought to our attention that the activities of the renamed RUC, the PSNI, were totally over the top and irresponsibly provocative towards the nationalist residents of the Dromalane Quayside Close estates on the night of October 31. A family fun entertaining night was had by all down at the bonfire until four armoured RUC vehicles arrived and drove aggressively towards those who were standing watching the fire burn out.

The RUC/PSNI jumped from their vehicles pointing their weapons menacingly at children and ordering them to put their hands up while they get searched. Not surprisingly this got a response from those who were enjoying the Halloween festivities which soon turned to heated confrontations between the parents of those who were being subjected to the measures deployed by the armed police.

At one stage the parent of one local lad was handcuffed by the RUC personnel for simply taking his son away from the melee that was unfolding. The local resident was then un-cuffed when the neighbours all came to his assistance; by this time the police had tried to extinguish the bonfire, further infuriating the residents of the area who contacted us.

They told us that up to them there had been a great night of craic with everyone well behaved. However things took a turn for the worst when up to 50 riot squad members descended into the area armed with batons and shields and started to attack the youth of the area. By now upwards of 30 armoured land-rovers had sealed of the entire area and 50 baton wielding thugs with their faces covered were running amok with the inevitable results.

The youth of the area moblised themselves and fought back against the heavily armed militia for several hours; unfortunately several locals had their cars damage in the battle the raged for more than two hours. The residents of Dromalane are in no doubt were the blame for last nights trouble lies and that's with the RUC/PSNI who obviously had pre-planned this incursion into the area given the number of personnel and resources they put into the operation.

Would they RUC/PSNI not be better of trying to put resources into catching those who are robbing and violently attacking vulnerable pensioners in their homes rather than send their militia into areas such as Dromalane to use it as some kind of training ground exercise against those who have no faith nor support for the British backed RUC/PSNI.

We in Republican Sinn Féin commend the local youth in defending their area against the British armed forces and we unashamedly denounce and condemn those who support and work with them in anyway

Pro Joe Conway/Brendan Watters Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, Newry.

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