Northern Ireland

Man injured in Lurgan bar clash involving police was 'peacemaker'

The Batcave Bar in Lugan. Picture by Hugh Russell.
The Batcave Bar in Lugan. Picture by Hugh Russell. The Batcave Bar in Lugan. Picture by Hugh Russell.

A Co Armagh man hospitalised after receiving a head injury during an altercation involving police has been described as a ‘peacemaker’ by friends.

Aaron Beeton suffered serious injuries in the William Street area of Lurgan in the early hours of Monday.

It has been claimed the 28-year-old was struck on the head with a baton after police were called to deal with an incident at a bar.

The Police Ombudsman last night said it is “currently conducting preliminary enquiries”.

The Lurgan man remained in a stable condition at Craigavon Area Hospital last night.

His mother, Suzanne Beeton, spoke of her shock on Facebook after apparently viewing footage of the incident.

PSNI debate with social media users after man 'injured by police baton'

“I'm sick to my stomach for what I have just watched our son go through... I swear we will fight this till our last breathes (sic)," she said.

“I wasn't gonna watch it but had to prepare myself for what we are gonna see.

“How can someone be so cruel.”

The Irish News understands that Mr Beeton, who is well known in his home town, was in the Batcave Bar in William Street when an altercation took place.

It is believed those involved were ejected from the premises and police were called.

Patrons later left the bar around the time officers arrived in the area.

Bar manager Susan McKenna, who is a friend of the injured man, said Mr Beeton tried to calm tensions inside the bar.

“He was 100 per cent not involved in anything inside and in fact he was trying to keep the peace in my opinion,” she said.

“I have not heard one person say anything bad, that he was involved.”

She described her friend as a “funny” and “good” person.

The PSNI said three men were arrested during the incident.

“This involved a large aggressive crowd, batons were used by our officers and a male received a head injury,” it said in a statement.

“Whilst incidents such as these often receive a surge of online attention and side line commentary, it is important to remember that speculation and short clips of the aftermath of an incident do not show anywhere near the full picture.”

A spokeswoman for the Police Ombudsman confirmed it is looking into the incident.

“We have been notified by the PSNI of an incident in Lurgan in the early hours of Monday morning in which batons were used by officers and a male sustained a head injury,” she said.

“We are currently conducting preliminary enquiries.”

SDLP assembly member Dolores Kelly said she will be seeking a meeting with the district commander "to discuss this incident and policing operations around our night-time economy”.

Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd is also expected to meet police today “to express the anger and frustration of the local community surrounding the incident in William Street".