13 November 1997 Edition
RUC beat up Coalisland woman
A young Coalisland woman was stopped and seriously assaulted by the RUC as she returned from shops in Dungannon on Friday 7 November.
The Coalisland woman was initially followed out of Mullaghconnor, Dungannon by a single RUC car, when a second RUC car turned up. One car drove in front of her and one behind her, forcing her to stop.
She was asked for and gave her licence and details of movements. But as the RUC went to search her car they pulled her mobile phone out of her hand told her to get out of the car. On searching the boot the all-male RUC gang made insulting remarks about her and her partner.
They continued asking her questions that she had answered and threatened her with arrest if she didn't reply.
The woman was arrested and her arm was forced up her back as she was forced by two RUC men into the back of a car. In the car she was searched and her car keys were wrenched from her hands. During the struggle she brushed against an RUC man, and he screamed at her, ``that's police assault, you bitch you.''
The woman was held in Dungannon RUC barracks and when she requested medical attention, she was told that she was free to go and to wait in the barracks yard if she wanted a doctor.
At South Tyrone Hospital X-rays were taken and she was treated for cuts and bruises to her chest, arm, legs, legs and neck. A solicitor has been instructed and the local Sinn Fein advice centre contacted.
Meanwhile three members of the Sinn Féin cumann in Blackwatertown were arrested in dawn raids on their homes on Wednesday 5 November by the RUC. While one was released after 12 hours the other two were held for longer at Gough Barracks. Sinn Fein Councillor Francis Molloy said: ``These arrests are the latest example of ongoing harassment of nationalists and republicans by the RUC, coming at a time when I am receiving increased complaints of acts of intimidation by crown forces.''
The Coalisland woman was initially followed out of Mullaghconnor, Dungannon by a single RUC car, when a second RUC car turned up. One car drove in front of her and one behind her, forcing her to stop.
She was asked for and gave her licence and details of movements. But as the RUC went to search her car they pulled her mobile phone out of her hand told her to get out of the car. On searching the boot the all-male RUC gang made insulting remarks about her and her partner.
They continued asking her questions that she had answered and threatened her with arrest if she didn't reply.
The woman was arrested and her arm was forced up her back as she was forced by two RUC men into the back of a car. In the car she was searched and her car keys were wrenched from her hands. During the struggle she brushed against an RUC man, and he screamed at her, ``that's police assault, you bitch you.''
The woman was held in Dungannon RUC barracks and when she requested medical attention, she was told that she was free to go and to wait in the barracks yard if she wanted a doctor.
At South Tyrone Hospital X-rays were taken and she was treated for cuts and bruises to her chest, arm, legs, legs and neck. A solicitor has been instructed and the local Sinn Fein advice centre contacted.
Meanwhile three members of the Sinn Féin cumann in Blackwatertown were arrested in dawn raids on their homes on Wednesday 5 November by the RUC. While one was released after 12 hours the other two were held for longer at Gough Barracks. Sinn Fein Councillor Francis Molloy said: ``These arrests are the latest example of ongoing harassment of nationalists and republicans by the RUC, coming at a time when I am receiving increased complaints of acts of intimidation by crown forces.''