FOOTAGE appearing to show a PSNI officer punching a man in the face during an altercation has sparked calls for an investigation.
The video, which has been circulated on social media, is believed to have been recorded in Moy, Co Tyrone, overnight on Saturday.
The clip shows a police officer restraining a man by the throat on the ground before apparently throwing a left-handed punch which strikes him in the face.
PSNI arrest in the Moy county Tyrone, Ireland, punch man in face. pic.twitter.com/9wAt0AjeYL
— Ireland32 (@IrelandTAL32) November 23, 2021
Another officer becomes involved and, as the pair continue to grapple with the man, a woman attempts to intervene.
She is then pushed to the ground twice, before a third police officer also becomes involved in the attempt to restrain the man.
Mid Ulster Aontú councillor Denise Mullen said it was her understanding that the man who was punched had tried to break up a fight in the street.
She said she had received more than a dozen complaints about the incident.
"I think the public would be shocked to see this footage," she said.
"I would call for a full investigation to be carried out into this."
The PSNI last night said it was aware of footage online.
"Whilst no complaints have been raised, the material has been referred to Professional Standards Department," a spokesman said.
He added that two men, aged 28 and 34, have been charged with assault on police and disorderly behaviour and will appear before Dungannon Magistrates Court on December 17.
