{"id":184729,"date":"2025-06-14T21:28:49","date_gmt":"2025-06-14T21:28:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/184729\/"},"modified":"2025-06-14T21:28:49","modified_gmt":"2025-06-14T21:28:49","slug":"ballymena-and-portadown-riots-two-more-charged-over-rioting-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/184729\/","title":{"rendered":"Ballymena and Portadown riots: Two more charged over rioting"},"content":{"rendered":"

Live\u00a0|\u00a0<\/p>\n

Senior PSNI officer says young people driving trouble in some areas\n<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A PSNI officer is engulfed in flames from a petrol bomb in Portadown (Photo Alan Lewis) and an anti-racism rally taking place at Belfast City Hall (Photos by Kevin Scott)<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A police officer surrounded by flames as a petrol bomb explodes after violence again broke out in Portadown tonight. Photo: Alan Lewis<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A water cannon vehicle at scene of a fire in Portadown in Co Armagh. Credit: Brian Lawless\/PA wire<\/p>\n

\"Police<\/p>\n

Police in Portadown in Co Armagh. Credit: Brian Lawless, PA<\/p>\n

\"Youths<\/p>\n

Youths in Portadown in Co Armagh, following three nights of disorder in Ballymena, Co Antrim. Brian Lawless\/PA Wire<\/p>\n

\"Reform<\/p>\n

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he forgave told Zia Yusuf for his \u2018error\u2019 in resigning (Ben Birchall\/PA)<\/p>\n

Abdullah Sabri, Adrian Rutherford and Victoria Steveley<\/p>\n

Today at 18:26<\/p>\n

Two more people are due in court as the PSNI investigation into five nights of rioting continues.<\/p>\n

A 20-year-old man has been charged in connection with trouble in Portadown, while a second male (23) is charged over disorder in Ballymena.<\/p>\n

Both will appear in court on Monday.<\/p>\n

On Friday night, police dealt with trouble in Portadown, Londonderry, Newry and Newtownabbey.<\/p>\n

In Belfast, a car was torched in a racially-motivated attack.<\/p>\n

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said: \u201cIt\u2019s deeply disturbing to see such young members of our communities involved in, and in some areas driving, criminal activity like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

It came as hundreds of people gathered for a rally at Belfast City Hall this afternoon.<\/p>\n

Organised by United Against Racism, the emergency demonstration was called in response to the rioting.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A PSNI officer is engulfed in flames from a petrol bomb in Portadown (Photo Alan Lewis) and an anti-racism rally taking place at Belfast City Hall (Photos by Kevin Scott)<\/p>\n

PSNI say Portadown riots had ‘more co-ordination’ as mutual aid to be deployed this weekend <\/p>\n

Patrick Corrigan from Amnesty NI told those gathered: \u201cWe\u2019re here because once again the ugly face of racism has shown its face on our streets, this time in terrifying attacks.<\/p>\n

“We\u2019re just one petrol bomb away from racially-motivated murder.”<\/p>\n

The rally also heard from speakers including Belfast\u2019s deputy Lord Mayor Paul Doherty.<\/p>\n

Mr Doherty hit out at Communities Minister Gordon Lyons following controversy over a social media post by the DUP minister.<\/p>\n

He branded Mr Lyons \u201ca disgrace\u201d and said he should resign.<\/p>\n

United Against Racism Belfast chair Ivanka Antova said: \u201cThose responsible for the racist violence have nothing to offer but hatred and fear, and we will oppose them every step of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Key updates<\/p>\n

Taoiseach ‘hopeful’ NI violence will stop before marching season starts<\/p>\n

Anti-racism rally: ‘One petrol bomb away from murder’<\/p>\n

DUP are realists, not racists on migration says leader Gavin Robinson as he attacks \u2018sneering\u2019 critics<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s one of NI\u2019s most deprived areas \u2013 it\u2019s poverty more than religion and ethnicity\u2019: Ballymena locals reflect on disorder<\/p>\n

Violence monetised: How livestreamers on TikTok turned Ballymena\u2019s unrest into odd viral and profitable spectacle<\/p>\n

Sam McBride on DUP’s ‘incoherent’ stance after lobbying for more migration<\/p>\n

Calmer night so far in Portadown\u00a0<\/strong>This is the scene in Portadown this evening after two nights of violence in the town.
Several youths have gathered in the area but otherwise it has been a quiet night so far, according to our reporter Abdullah Sabri.
Earlier, the ‘mini-Twelfth’ band parade passed through the town.Second man in court on Monday<\/strong>Police have also issued an update on their probe into trouble in Ballymena, saying they have charged a man to court.
The 23-year-old has been charged with riot and is due to appear before Coleraine Magistrates\u2019 Court on Monday.PSNI update on Portadown trouble\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Police investigating disorder in Portadown on Friday night have charged a 20-year-old man to court.
He has been charged with riotous behaviour is due to appear before Lisburn Magistrates\u2019 Court on Monday.
A 14-year-old boy who was arrested has been released on bail.<\/p>\n

Taoiseach ‘hopeful’ NI violence will stop before marching season starts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin has said he is hopeful the racially-motivated violence which has convulsed Northern Ireland will abate before the start of the marching season as he warned every country has to adopt a \u201czero tolerance\u201d approach to such racist attacks.
Mr Martin said it was shocking to see families fleeing their homes amid fears of masked gangs targeting their families,” he said.
“I think it will ease. I fervently hope that because many of the politicians that I spoke to over the last two days have been in the communities. The vast majority of people in these communities do want this violence, do not want this type of activity.
“That must be said as well – so I am hoping that with a whole community influence that this type of behaviour will stop.”
The Taoiseach added: “The social media aspect of this is very worrying, there is a lot of incitement on social media. There is a lot of misinformation around this subject \u2013 there are people who have legitimate issues that need engagement with and dialogue on but equally then, you have the other side where there is just gross misinformation.”<\/p>\n

Support from Scottish police<\/strong><\/p>\n

Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones: \u201cIt is important to know over the remainder of this weekend the public will continue to see a large policing presence across Northern Ireland to reassure our communities and protect our streets.\u00a0
“This will include the deployment of Mutual Aid resources from Scotland. These officers, trained to work in our environment, will be working side by side with their PSNI colleagues.”<\/p>\n

‘Stop posting hate’ – PSNI chief\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones: \u201cTo those posting hate on social media, inciting disorder or being seen to commit disorder we are actively investigating what you have said and what you have been captured doing. We have an ongoing physical and online presence.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘Young people driving trouble’ – police chief<\/strong><\/p>\n

Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said: \u201cIt\u2019s deeply disturbing to see such young members of our communities involved in and in some areas driving criminal activity like this.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would appeal directly to parents and guardians to speak to your children about the impact their behaviour is having on the safety of our local communities and the impact this could have on their lives if arrested, charged and prosecuted.”<\/p>\n

Trouble spreads across NI<\/strong><\/p>\n

Police in Londonderry dealt with disorder in the Tullyally area over the course of several hours on Friday night, into this morning.\u00a0
A police vehicle was damaged, with the front window smashed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Police made one arrest at around 2.20am. This male remains in custody at this time.<\/p>\n

In Co Down, damage was caused to playing fields and property in the Killeavey Road area of Newry as a large group set a pitch and bins on fire. One 14-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of riot.<\/p>\n

And in Co Antrim, stones were thrown at the windows of a hotel in the Newtownabbey area.
A car was also set on fire in the Hesketh Gardens area of Belfast, which police are treating a racially motivated hate crime.<\/p>\n

Boy (14) arrested over Portadown violence<\/strong><\/p>\n

Police have issued an update on overnight trouble in Northern Ireland.
They said disorder and violence broke out in Portadown with officers coming under sustained attack with heavy masonry and fireworks thrown at them.\u00a0
“Officers used various public order tactics including water canon to keep the public safe with no reports of injury to the public or damage to property.
“Two males were arrested, aged 14 and 20 on suspicion of riotous behaviour and they currently remain in custody at this stage.”<\/p>\n

‘Migrants cannot be scapegoated’<\/strong><\/p>\n

United Against Racism Belfast chair Ivanka Antova said: \u201cOur communities will not be bowed by racism. The racist minority will not win.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThousands of people braved the elements today to stand against hate and to call for an end to the violence. The anti-racist majority will not allow far-right agitators to scapegoat migrants and refugees for the hardships working class communities face.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘No to racism’<\/strong><\/p>\n

Demonstrators take part in a United Against Racism rally at Belfast City Hall today.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘Racism cannot embed itself in NI’<\/strong><\/p>\n

Danny Donnelly, an Alliance MLA for East Antrim, has spoken at the rally.
He said: \u201cOver the next couple of weeks when we’re talking about this in Stormont, and when it comes up, we will say racism is wrong, all this violence is wrong – no ifs, no buts, no arguments.\u00a0
“We just have to be very, very clear that there is no argument for this. We stand with people who are being attacked and we will not let this embed itself here. \u2029This will end now.\u201d<\/p>\n

‘Gordon Lyons is a disgrace’ – deputy mayor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Deputy Mayor Paul Doherty has also blasted Communities Minister Gordon Lyons.
He tells the DUP MLA: \u201cGordon Lyons, you are an absolute disgrace and should immediately resign from your position. Your words made people unsafe.”
Mr Lyons faced criticism over a social media post about the location of migrant families in Larne.
Masked youths attacked the local leisure centre on Wednesday night and set it on fire.<\/p>\n

Mr Lyons rejected calls to quit and hit back “at any notion” that he had publicly revealed the facility. He said he tried to defuse the situation.<\/p>\n

Deputy Lord Mayor Paul Doherty is now addressing the rally.
He says: “I’m calling on the Executive and even the PSNI to do more and step up.\u00a0
“To those who are stoking this flame of division, we see you and are watching you every day.”<\/p>\n

‘Rioters don’t speak for us’<\/strong><\/p>\n

NIPSA deputy general secretary Patrick Mulholland has addressed the rally.<\/p>\n

He tells people: \u201cI\u2019m a Ballymena man and, let me tell you this, those rioting did not speak for the people of Ballymena.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anti-racism rally: ‘One petrol bomb away from murder’<\/strong><\/p>\n

Patrick Corrigan from Amnesty NI, speaking at this afternoon’s anti-racism rally, has warned someone could get killed as riots rage across Northern Ireland. \u00a0
He told the rally: \u201cWe\u2019re here because once again the ugly face of racism has shown its face on our streets, this time in terrifying attacks.
“We\u2019re just one petrol bomb away from racially-motivated murder.”
In our video clip, he says too many political leaders have “chosen to fan the flames of hate”.<\/p>\n

Rally against racism<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is the scene at City Hall in Belfast, where people are gathering for an anti-racism rally. Our reporter Abdullah Sabri is there.<\/p>\n

MP’s warning ahead of ‘mini Twelfth’ parade<\/strong><\/p>\n

A band parade will be staged in Portadown tonight.
According to an application lodged with the Parades Commission, 15 bands are expected to take part, with 750 participants.
Carla Lockhart, the local MP, has urged people to enjoy the parade but avoid trouble.
“The mini Twelfth is a great social, family occasion. I hope and want tonight to be the same as other years and ensure it is not hijacked by a small number intent on causing trouble,” she said.
“We all take pride in our culture and heritage, let\u2019s not allow that to be tarnished by a few moments of madness.”
Ms Lockhart said she is in contact with police “to ensure there\u2019s a proportionate and fair approach to policing”.<\/p>\n

DUP are realists, not racists on migration says leader Gavin Robinson as he attacks \u2018sneering\u2019 critics<\/strong><\/p>\n

The DUP\u2019s call for \u201chonest action” on illegal immigration does not make the party racist or far right, its leader has insisted.
Gavin Robinson also hit out at \u201csneering commentary\u201d from those in \u201cleafy suburbs\u201d unaffected by the issue.
His comments follow five nights of violence in towns across Northern Ireland, culminating in police being attacked with petrol bombs last night.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s one of NI\u2019s most deprived areas \u2013 it\u2019s poverty more than religion and ethnicity\u2019: Ballymena locals reflect on disorder<\/strong>\u00a0As scenes of unruly mobs, burnt-out homes and terrified families made headlines around the world this week, Ballymena found itself in the spotlight.
Several nights of rioting saw the Co Antrim town make the news for all the wrong reasons.
It’s an area that already has its share of problems, from the closure of several large factories and sources of employment, to being in the grip of a drugs crisis.
Now, one locally based social worker believes \u201cintense social and economic deprivation\u201d is fuelling the violence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Live\u00a0|\u00a0 Senior PSNI officer says young people driving trouble in some areas A PSNI officer is engulfed in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":184246,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5011],"tags":[1211,779,73935,1144,1610,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-184729","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-northern-ireland","8":"tag-antrim-news","9":"tag-armagh-news","10":"tag-ni-protests","11":"tag-northern-ireland","12":"tag-police-service-of-northern-ireland","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114683849461531874","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184729","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=184729"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184729\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/184246"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=184729"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=184729"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=184729"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}