A MAN has been released on police bail after being arrested at the site of an oil drilling project at Woodburn Forest near Carrickfergus.
The man, one of a group of protesters who gathered on the access path to the InfraStrata project, was arrested on Sunday evening and later released on bail.
Sergeant John Hamilton said: "Police arrested a 43-year-old man in the Paisley Road area of Carrickfergus on suspicion of common assault, disorderly behaviour and resisting police.
"He was later released on bail pending further police enquiries."
Police confirmed that "CS incapacitant spray" was used to restrain the man.
The campaign group Stop the Drill claimed that several protesters had attempted to occupy the access path to the site on Sunday, while two people left on Monday after spending the night at another entrance.
Environmental protesters have set up a camp on the edge of the site with one man arrested earlier in May after he attempted to stop drilling by chaining himself to a crane.
InfraStrata, the company behind the project, confirmed that drilling had begun in a statement a fortnight ago and has said the work will take around six weeks to complete.
