Northern Ireland

Ballymena Pride organiser ‘would like to meet’ person who spread slurry in town

The first Mid and East Antrim Pride parade was held in Ballymena last month

The first Ballymena pride parade takes place met by religous protesters on Saturday. PICTURE COLM LENAGHAN
The first pride parade in Ballymena took place on June 28. PICTURE: COLM LENAGHAN
By Mark Robinson

One of the organisers behind the first pride parade to take place in Ballymena has said that they would “like to meet” the individual responsible for spreading slurry on part of the route in an attempt to disrupt the event.

The first Mid and East Antrim (MEA) Pride parade was held in the town on June 28, with hundreds coming out to line the route and take part in the procession.

Prior to the event taking place, slurry was sprayed on one of the roads in what police described as suspected hate crime.

Read more: Teenager spread gallons of hen manure on road before Ballymena’s first Pride parade as ‘prank’

Officers later arrested two men in relation to the incident.

Isaac Adams leaves Coleraine Magistrates' Court, where he was charged in connection to an incident in which slurry was sprayed in Ballymena hours before the town hosted its first Pride parade
Isaac Adams leaves Coleraine Magistrates' Court on June 30, where he was charged in connection to an incident in which slurry was sprayed in Ballymena hours before the town hosted its first Pride parade PICTURE: LIAM MCBURNEY/PA (Liam McBurney/PA Wire)

Isaac Adams (19), from the Lislaban Road in Cloughmills, appeared in Coleraine Magistrates’ Court on June 30 where he confirmed his identity and that he understood the three charges against him.

These related to causing criminal damage, causing manure to be deposited on the road and possessing a bladed article.

He has since been released on bail.

Separately, a 20-year-old man who was arrested following the incident was earlier released on police bail.

In a statement posted by MEA Pride, an organiser said that they have “no hatred in [their] hearts” and that they would “like to meet the individual involved”.

“I’d like to meet the individual involved at some stage to show them that they have nothing to fear with a Pride celebration in Ballymena,” the statement said.

“For some people they’ve never experienced out and proud members of our community, they see fear of the unknown as the true threat.

“We are not a threat. We are your neighbours, the guy who serves you every morning in your local supermarket, the carers and doctors of your loved ones and more.

“We’re not expecting the individual to be out waving a rainbow flag at Broadway next year, we are only asking for respect for our right to exist. There’s enough room for all of us.”

MEA Pride thanked the local businesses, community groups and organisations who supported their first parade and those who came out to support on the day.