29 July 1999 Edition
Back issue: Portadown people under siege
THE UDR attacked a 27-year-old Portadown man, breaking his jaw and knocking him unconscious.
Damien McCann left a local dance around 2am on Saturday morning, 8 July, and was walking through the nationalist Garvaghy Park Estate with a friend, Brian McGeown, when they were accosted by a UDR patrol. Without warning, McCann and McGeown were attacked with rifle butts, knocking them both unconscious. When they came round they were bundled into the back of a Land Rover and taken to Portadown RUC Barracks, where they were held for several hours before being released without charge.
During the time they were held, McCann repeatedly asked to see a doctor but was refused. On his release he immediately went to hospital, where it was discovered that his jaw has been broken.
Sinn Féin spokesperson Johnny Dignam said:
``Garvaghy Park area had been saturated on both Saturday and Sunday bcause of a loyalist march due to take place on Sunday morning. The residents held a peaceful protest against the march on Saturday night and it was obvious from the attitude of the crown forces that they were looking for a confrontation.''
Damien McCann left a local dance around 2am on Saturday morning, 8 July, and was walking through the nationalist Garvaghy Park Estate with a friend, Brian McGeown, when they were accosted by a UDR patrol. Without warning, McCann and McGeown were attacked with rifle butts, knocking them both unconscious. When they came round they were bundled into the back of a Land Rover and taken to Portadown RUC Barracks, where they were held for several hours before being released without charge.
During the time they were held, McCann repeatedly asked to see a doctor but was refused. On his release he immediately went to hospital, where it was discovered that his jaw has been broken.
Sinn Féin spokesperson Johnny Dignam said:
``Garvaghy Park area had been saturated on both Saturday and Sunday bcause of a loyalist march due to take place on Sunday morning. The residents held a peaceful protest against the march on Saturday night and it was obvious from the attitude of the crown forces that they were looking for a confrontation.''