Northern Ireland

Residents 'abused' as loyalist revellers pass through streets

Sinn Féin MLA Fra McCann has condemned 'abuse' directed at residents in Belfast city centre. Picture by Declan Roughan
Sinn Féin MLA Fra McCann has condemned 'abuse' directed at residents in Belfast city centre. Picture by Declan Roughan Sinn Féin MLA Fra McCann has condemned 'abuse' directed at residents in Belfast city centre. Picture by Declan Roughan

RESIDENTS living close to Belfast city centre say "sectarian abuse" was hurled at them by loyalist revellers they claim were "directed" towards their area.

Householders in the Barrack Street, John Street and Hamill Street areas were described as being fearful of leaving their homes on Monday as crowds celebrating the Twelfth moved through the mainly nationalist streets.

An MLA spoke of "disgraceful scenes" as residents were subjected to abuse, while locals said a woman in her eighties was "screamed" at by a loyalist as he passed her home.

A spokesperson for the Falls Residents Association said "hundreds" of revellers came through the enclave from the nearby loyalist Sandy Row area.

"We were working with representatives on the ground in order to make sure the residents felt safe in their own homes as this was going on," the spokesperson said.

West Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Fra McCann said the crowds antagonised residents, waving flags and chanting sectarian songs as well as urinating in the street and vomiting on people's property.

"A pensioner was also left shaken as a intoxicated man screamed sectarian abuse in her face," he said.

"This is absolutely unacceptable in 2021."

Lower Falls Community Safety Coordinator Lisa Lynn said: "We have been engaging with the local community policing team and local youth providers were also there to offer support. There were a lot of young ones involved who had been directed towards the area from Sandy Row waving flags and emblems, and many of them were not from Belfast and appeared not to know where they were.

"Many of the those people engaged with us and took it on board before leaving, but others didn't and hurled sectarian abuse towards us and the people in their homes.

"This could have turned into a very volatile situation. We would call for better planning from authorities including police ahead of next year to prevent a repeat of this."

PSNI Chief Inspector Rosie Thompson said last night: "At approximately 1.30pm, we received reports that as a number of males made their way through the Hamill Street, John Street and Barrack Street area they committed acts of anti-social behaviour, including shouting sectarian comments and urinating in the street.

"Officers responded, and they remained in the area to ensure there were no further incidents."