Northern Ireland

Loyalist groups withdraw support for police as Storey fallout escalates

Detective Superintendent Bobby Singleton has expressed disappointment following reports that loyalist community groups have withdrawn support from working with PSNI neighbourhood teams ahead of the summer months
Detective Superintendent Bobby Singleton has expressed disappointment following reports that loyalist community groups have withdrawn support from working with PSNI neighbourhood teams ahead of the summer months Detective Superintendent Bobby Singleton has expressed disappointment following reports that loyalist community groups have withdrawn support from working with PSNI neighbourhood teams ahead of the summer months

THERE were reports of trouble between police and loyalists in the Sandy Row area of Belfast last night following the Public Prosecution Service decision not to prosecute Sinn Féin politicians who attended the Bobby Storey funeral.

PSNI officers attempted to push back crowds attending a protest. There had been calls on social media for protests in other parts of the city including the loyalist Tigers Bay area.

A separate protest "against the Irish Sea Border" outside Belfast City Hall is due to take place today with more crowds expected.

It comes amid reports that loyalist community groups across the north said they would no longer liaise with PSNI teams ahead of contentious events.

While PSNI community teams have worked with closely with groups in the past around planning and averting potential trouble, the events of recent days has severely impacted on relations as unionist call for Chief Constable Simon Byrne to resign.

Earlier this week, loyalists in Moygashel, Co Tyrone said they would be going ahead with their July 11 bonfires, which were cancelled last year due to the pandemic.

In a statement, the bonfire organisers said that "after careful consideration and general feeling among the local community" they have decided "not to engage with the PSNI on any level until confidence...towards policing and justice has been restored".

Loyalists in the Tigers Bay area of north Belfast have also said they will no longer cooperate, saying they were taking a stand against “two-tier policing”.

Further groups have withdrawn support, including organisations from north Antrim, south Derry and mid-Ulster, it was reported in the Belfast Telegraph.

Loyalists in the Clooney estate in Derry said: "For a number of years now, Clooney estate bonfire has worked tirelessly with our local community policing team to keep them best informed of all plans. This year will be different. We no longer have any engagement with the PSNI involving our bonfire. Our community have simply had enough of the one-sided republican policing across the board here in Northern Ireland.”

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said: “We’re aware of the public statements by a number of groups indicating that they will not engage with the PSNI community policing teams ahead of the summer. We understand and are working to address the very serious public concerns around recent events.

“It’s hugely disappointing to us that anyone would decide not to engage with their local neighbourhood officers especially around events which present public safety challenges. As a police service we remain committed to working with all communities to support their safety and wellbeing.”