Northern Ireland

West Belfast Glider re-routed after windows smashed in latest attack

The Glider bus service on the Falls Road in west Belfast. Picture by Hugh Russell
The Glider bus service on the Falls Road in west Belfast. Picture by Hugh Russell The Glider bus service on the Falls Road in west Belfast. Picture by Hugh Russell

THE Glider service has been re-routed in west Belfast after windows were smashed on two buses in the latest in a spate of attacks.

Police said they were called on Wednesday evening after stones were thrown at two buses on the Falls Road, breaking windows on the vehicles. No-one was injured.

In response, trade union Unite said the Glider service after 7pm will be diverted from Falls Road where the attack happened onto the motorway and through Kennedy Way.

The vandalism follows several attacks in the area in recent weeks, including youths throwing bricks.

In one incident, a teenage girl who was a passenger narrowly escaped injury when a window was smashed.

A woman also told how passengers were left in "shock" when a brick was thrown through a window in the disabled area of a Glider bus.

Davy Thompson, Unite's deputy regional secretary, described the recent attacks as "reprehensible".

"This decision was made in the interests of protecting safety and welfare of both staff and passengers but we recognise that it will result in huge disruption to those living on the Falls Road who use the Glider service," he said.

"The responsibility for this outcome lies wholly with those who perpetrated these attacks.

"This is a hugely disappointing outcome and one that will only exacerbate the pressures on deprived households throughout the Falls Road area at a time of mounting challenge as a result of the coronavirus threat."

Mr Thompson said Unite would be seeking meetings with community representatives, police and Translink.

Appealing for witnesses, PSNI Inspector Andrew McConville described the latest criminal damage as "senseless and dangerous and it has to stop".

He urged those involved to consider the consequences of their actions and encouraged parents and guardians to help prevent young people becoming involved.

"Know where your children are, who they are with and what they are doing," he said.

Translink condemned the attacks and apologised to customers for any inconvenience caused.

A spokeswoman said services will continue after 7pm with "some adjustments" around Falls Park for a short time.

"Full reinstatement will be reviewed once safeguarding measures prove effective," she added.

Last month figures obtained by The Irish News showed that physical and verbal attacks on public transport staff in Northern Ireland have more than doubled in two years.

Translink recorded 744 incidents in six years including 506 verbal and 238 physical attacks, according to a Freedom of Information response.

The number has increased from just 60 in 2014 to a high of 230 in 2019.

Buses and trains have also been targeted in almost 1,300 incidents of vandalism and criminal damage since 2015.

There were 173 incidents of vandalism and 1,121 occasions when objects were thrown at buses and trains.

Repairs to vandalism between 2015 and October 2019 cost more than £517,000.

Since the Glider bus service launched in Belfast in September 2018, its workers have endured 17 physical and 70 verbal attacks.

Translink has said safety is its "top priority" and that anti-social behaviour issues are low when compared to overall passenger numbers and the volume of services operated.