Ballymena

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons will be referred to the standards commissioner following events surrounding a fire at Larne Leisure Centre amid ongoing civil unrest in Northern Ireland. The referral follows social media posts made by Lyons before the fire, in which he disclosed that the leisure centre had been used to accommodate individuals relocated from Ballymena following disturbances in that town, located approximately 30 minutes away. Matthew O'Toole, leader of the opposition in the Northern Ireland Assembly, announced his intention to refer the minister to the commissioner, stating that the minister's actions "cannot be ignored" and that "lives are at stake." On Wednesday, Lyons expressed concern about the decision-making process, stating, "As a local MLA for the area, neither I nor my DUP Council colleagues were made aware of or consulted on this decision until late this afternoon." The minister […]

Violent disorder occurred for a second consecutive night in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday, requiring deployment of riot police and specialized units. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) reported that multiple vehicles and properties were damaged by fire while officers faced attacks from projectiles, including petrol bombs, fireworks, and masonry. Law enforcement responded with riot police, plastic baton rounds, water cannons, and dog units to address the situation. According to PSNI statements, order was restored in the Clonavon Terrace, North Road, and Bridge Street areas by approximately 1 am Wednesday. Additional incidents of disorder were reported in Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus, and north Belfast. The disturbances followed similar events on Monday night in the same Clonavon Terrace area, which occurred after a peaceful daytime protest organized to support the family of a girl who was reportedly the victim of an alleged […]

Fifteen police officers sustained injuries during violent disturbances in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, on Monday night. The incidents occurred following a vigil for a teenage girl who had reportedly been sexually assaulted. The violence began after a vigil held for a teenage victim of alleged sexual assault. Earlier that day, two 14-year-old boys had appeared in court facing attempted rape charges, with a Romanian interpreter present to read the charges. According to police statements, masked individuals separated from the vigil and began constructing barricades while gathering projectiles. The crowd targeted properties in the Clonavon Terrace area before turning their attention to law enforcement officers. Police faced attacks involving petrol bombs, fireworks, heavy masonry, and bricks. The assailants also attempted to set fire to homes belonging to several foreign families in the County Antrim town. The confrontation resulted in damage to two […]