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A car was burnt and premises damaged following a gathering in Kilkeel last night. The gathering took place following an attack on a man in Belfast on Monday night which resulted in a Sudanese man being arrested.
Cllr Glyn Hanna, current Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council spoke of the event and called for calm "Tonight there was a peaceful gathering in Kilkeel, where locals expressed their disgust at the attack on a man in Belfast last night. My colleague Henry Reilly spoke to the gathering of people and prayed for the victim of the attack.
He added "I arrived home from Belfast later and joined the gathering to show my support. I am disappointed after I left the peaceful protest quite a bit of disorder took place and damage to a charity shop from a burning car took place. This behaviour is totally unacceptable and does not achieve anything. I call for calm, and peaceful protest is the only way ahead."
Cllr Henry Reilly has spoke of his disgust at the events in Kilkeel after the gathering. "Totally disgusted with what happened in Kilkeel tonight- burning cars and damaging property is counter productive and only damages our own community - There was a peaceful and respectful act of solidarity with the man who was brutally attacked in Belfast at the Lower Square that finished with the Lord’s Prayer - the people had come together and made a powerful statement and there was no need or justification for violence and destruction."
Cllr Michael Rice added "There is understandable disgust & revulsion at the horrific attempted murder that took place in Belfast last night. I share that revulsion.
"However, the scenes we have witnessed on the streets of Kilkeel tonight are completely unacceptable. Attacking a local business has nothing to do with community. This is outright thuggery. No grievance or concern justifies the destruction of property or behaviour that puts people at risk. There can be no excuse and no justification for these attacks tonight."
