THE father of a 14-year-old boy has voiced concerns after his son was searched by police under the Terrorism Act.
West Belfast man Risteard Ó Murchú spoke out after the schoolboy was subjected to a stop and search in the Whiterock Road area yesterday.
Mr Ó Murchu, who is a former member of Saoradh’s national executive, said his son was travelling in a car with him and a friend when they were stopped by the PSNI.
During the operation a police officer searched the child who at the time was standing on a footpath.
When asked what legislation he was being stopped under the officer replied “Section 43 of the Terrorism Act”.
Section 43 gives the police power to stop and search “a person whom he reasonably suspects to be a terrorist to discover whether he has in his possession anything which may constitute evidence that he is a terrorist”.
Mr Ó Murchú said that while his son has been stopped and searched before, police have never previously cited Section 43.
“When I am stopped I expect to be stopped, I don’t agree with it, I expect it, that’s the reality,” he said.
“I think it’s totally wrong for the child to be searched, I think it’s a case of harassment, an abuse of power - because he is in the car with me he is going to be stopped.”
Mr Ó Murchú said his son was still a young teenager and a schoolboy.
He said: “I fear that should he be subjected to this type of activity on a regular basis that it will have a detrimental effect on his education.”
The stop and search was also criticised by Saoradh spokesman Dee Fennell.
