Violence as chapel protest hits ninth month.
RUC and loyalists clashed as massgoers left Our Lady's Catholic
church in Harryville, Ballymena on Saturday evening 24 May, the
36th week of loyalist pickets at the Catholic church.
A 200 strong loyalist mob gathered outside the church and became
aggressive as the mass ended and worshippers headed home; the
loyalists sang, ``Yaba daba do, any Fenian will do''. The RUC moved
in to push them away from the church allowing the worshippers
free passage.
Ormeau Road loyalist and UDP member Pauline Gilmore, and newly
elected DUP councillor David Tweed were present throughout.
The mob bombarded the RUC with missiles and paint bombs as they
retreated towards the loyalist Ballykeel estate. There they set
upon workmen repairing a nearby water main. The contractors had
to flee for their lives as their van was set on fire. The mob
also attacked and destroyed other vehicles before dispersing. No
arrests were made or plastic bullets fired by RUC.
Meanwhile in the early hours of Thursday morning 22 May loyalists
threw petrol bombs at houses belonging to three RUC members in
the Ballymena area.
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