PSNI man points gun at kids

Marie Cush

Children in the Turf Lodge area of West Belfast were left traumatised last Friday evening, after a PSNI officer pulled a gun on them while they played football.

The trigger-happy officer was witnessed pulling the loaded weapon from its holster by a number of local residents who reacted with panic.

One resident said two Land Rovers pulled into the courtyard and the PSNI officer hopped out with the gun, while two others emerged with their batons drawn.

The PSNI left, but when they returned residents approached a female officer and asked her to explain the incident. She defended her colleague saying he had only pulled out CS spray.

Sinn Féin Councillor Marie Cush called on the Police Ombudsman to investigate the incident.

"I want to see the PSNI officer involved suspended, along with the female officer who defended him when she hadn't seen what had happened," Cush said.

"Serious questions have to be asked about the PSNI drawing firearms and batons when they are under no threat at all."