17 May 2007 Edition
Harassment of Ógra SF members
Ógra Shinn Féin has accused the PSNI of harassment of its members after an Ógra activist in Strabane was arrested late last Friday night.
Uniformed PSNI members harassed a well-known member on his way home from a night out. The youth who does not wish to be identified was surrounded by PSNI members, pinned against the wall, subjected to verbal abuse and had his mobile phone inspected.
“They claimed I was observed taking photos of them, this is untrue as I had no camera with me, and the camera on my phone doesn’t work”, said the youth.
When he requested his phone back the youth was threatened with arrest. When he said he was aware of his rights he was thrown in the back of a land rover receiving numerous facial injuries.
John McDermott, spokesperson for Ógra Shinn Féin An Srath Ban has slammed the PSNI.
“We had thought these sort of heavy handed tactics were embedded firmly in the past. Is this the policing service that the community needs? I think not. We require a police service representative of the community, that will act with the community’s best interests. The actions we witnessed over the weekend do not tick any of those boxes”, said McDermott.”
Uniformed PSNI members harassed a well-known member on his way home from a night out. The youth who does not wish to be identified was surrounded by PSNI members, pinned against the wall, subjected to verbal abuse and had his mobile phone inspected.
“They claimed I was observed taking photos of them, this is untrue as I had no camera with me, and the camera on my phone doesn’t work”, said the youth.
When he requested his phone back the youth was threatened with arrest. When he said he was aware of his rights he was thrown in the back of a land rover receiving numerous facial injuries.
John McDermott, spokesperson for Ógra Shinn Féin An Srath Ban has slammed the PSNI.
“We had thought these sort of heavy handed tactics were embedded firmly in the past. Is this the policing service that the community needs? I think not. We require a police service representative of the community, that will act with the community’s best interests. The actions we witnessed over the weekend do not tick any of those boxes”, said McDermott.”