Northern Ireland

Man issued with police notice after priest chased in Newtownstewart

Footage emerged which appeared to show Fr Roland Colhoun being forced to flee from a man in Newtownstewart
Footage emerged which appeared to show Fr Roland Colhoun being forced to flee from a man in Newtownstewart Footage emerged which appeared to show Fr Roland Colhoun being forced to flee from a man in Newtownstewart

POLICE issued a man with a community resolution notice for possessing Class B drugs after a priest was chased along a street in Co Tyrone.

It emerges after footage of a "bizarre" incident was circulated which appeared to show Fr Roland Colhoun being forced to flee from a man in Newtownstewart.

Several police officers later arrived at the scene and the man was apprehended, according to the Ulster Herald which saw the video.

Fr Colhoun and the Derry Diocese declined to comment, but the PSNI has since issued a statement.

Officers were called following a report on Friday afternoon last week of a man "acting aggressively" and a suspected break-in and criminal damage to a camper van.

A man was arrested on suspicion of burglary, criminal damage, possession of an offensive weapon with intent and possession of Class B drugs.

He was later released unconditionally in respect of the suspected criminal damage, as the injured party said no damage had been caused to the camper van.

He was also released unconditionally in respect of possession of offensive weapon, as the witness to the alleged incident "did not wish to make a statement".

However, the man was issued with a community resolution notice in relation to the Class B drugs.

"PPS (Public Prosecution Service) has recommended no prosecution in relation to the burglary," a PSNI spokeswoman added.

Sinn Féin councillor Kieran McGuire described it as a "very bizarre incident" that should be condemned.

He told the Ulster Herald and Strabane Chronicle that he understood the priest had been intending to bless a camper van when the incident occurred.

"No matter what your religious beliefs, no man of the cloth should have been treated in this way," he said.