Sectarian attacks put damper on 'successful' weekend
Police in Derry say the St. Patrick's weekend passed off "without major incident" despite a spate of reported sectarian attacks.
A spokesman for the PSNI said that only two "serious" incidents were reported to police during the three-day celebrations, both occurring on Monday night.
Windows were broken in the mainly Protestant Fountain estate by a large gang of youths who, witnesses say, shouted sectarian abuse. A 16-year-old youth has since been arrested in connection with the incident.
An elderly widow, who lives in Bann Drive in the Waterside, also had her windows broken.
Altnagelvin's A&E department confirmed that the number of patients treated for serious assaults was double the number of admissions for a normal weekend. A total of 17 patients were treated for serious assaults over the St. Patrick's weekend - ten on Saturday night, three on Sunday and four on Monday.
Sinn Fin councillor Patricia Logue says these incidents marred what was a "very successful" day for the city.
"The people who attacked residents in Lower Fountain Street near the city centre and a pensioner's home in Irish Street were unrepresentative of the vast majority of the citizens and visitors to the city yesterday who thoroughly enjoyed St Patrick's Day. These sectarian attacks are wrong and people should desist from this type of activity and anyone involved should be ashamed of themselves."
Chair of Derry's Vintners Association Les Doherty said the fact that rest of St. Patrick's weekend passed off peacefully was down to the "responsible" attitude the city' s bar owners. The majority of pubs in the city signed up to the "Respect the Shamrock, Respect Yourself" initiative which saw bar owners abide by a charter aimed at discouraging binge drinking.
"Given the violence in Belfast , Dublin and other parts of Ireland we should be justifiably proud of the way people in our city conducted themselves over the four-day holiday," said Mr. Doherty.
Insp. Robin Young, of Waterside Police Station, said the situation on St. Patrick's day was improving.
"The afternoon event went off very well", he said. "The dedication of the city centre as an alcohol free zone did help curb any violent incidents. We do still have alcohol-related issues as we do on many of our public holidays but the attitude in the town has become a lot more positive in recent years."
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Weather for Derry
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South east
