29 May 1997 Edition
Violence as chapel protest hits ninth month
RUC and loyalists clashed as massgoers left Our Lady's Catholic church in Harryville, Ballymena on Saturday evening 24 May, the 36th week of loyalist pickets at the Catholic church.
A 200 strong loyalist mob gathered outside the church and became aggressive as the mass ended and worshippers headed home; the loyalists sang, ``Yaba daba do, any Fenian will do''. The RUC moved in to push them away from the church allowing the worshippers free passage.
Ormeau Road loyalist and UDP member Pauline Gilmore, and newly elected DUP councillor David Tweed were present throughout.
The mob bombarded the RUC with missiles and paint bombs as they retreated towards the loyalist Ballykeel estate. There they set upon workmen repairing a nearby water main. The contractors had to flee for their lives as their van was set on fire. The mob also attacked and destroyed other vehicles before dispersing. No arrests were made or plastic bullets fired by RUC.
Meanwhile in the early hours of Thursday morning 22 May loyalists threw petrol bombs at houses belonging to three RUC members in the Ballymena area.
A 200 strong loyalist mob gathered outside the church and became aggressive as the mass ended and worshippers headed home; the loyalists sang, ``Yaba daba do, any Fenian will do''. The RUC moved in to push them away from the church allowing the worshippers free passage.
Ormeau Road loyalist and UDP member Pauline Gilmore, and newly elected DUP councillor David Tweed were present throughout.
The mob bombarded the RUC with missiles and paint bombs as they retreated towards the loyalist Ballykeel estate. There they set upon workmen repairing a nearby water main. The contractors had to flee for their lives as their van was set on fire. The mob also attacked and destroyed other vehicles before dispersing. No arrests were made or plastic bullets fired by RUC.
Meanwhile in the early hours of Thursday morning 22 May loyalists threw petrol bombs at houses belonging to three RUC members in the Ballymena area.