Ardoyne disturbances investigation
15 Jul 2010
The senior detective in charge of the investigation into the disturbances at Ardoyne over the past few nights has vowed to bring those responsible before the courts.
Detective Chief Inspector Alan Little, who is heading a team of 20 officers solely dedicated to probing the disorder, has stressed his commitment to carrying out a thorough and painstaking investigation which he hopes will result in a significant number of arrests.
“There is a robust and extensive investigation under way. We have so made four arrests, two for the attempted murder of three police officers on the Twelfth and another two for riotous behaviour and related charges. During house searches yesterday and today, we have also seized an explosive device and a series of other items.
“Just as with the disorder at Whiterock five years ago, where we brought numerous people before the courts, detectives will gather, examine and act upon all the available evidence. That evidence includes CCTV footage, photographs, forensic evidence and area searches. Everything I can do to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice will be done.”
“At the moment there is approx 100hrs of video footage and over 1000 photographs from my evidence gathering teams alone. In addition to this I have already started the process of securing evidence from numerous other sources such as the internet and other media.”
“There appears to be a misperception among some people that we should be arresting people at the height of a public order situation. Some arrests were made on the day, however, it is not always possible to do this for a variety of reasons. Some of the footage already released shows clearly the extremely difficult circumstances the officers involved had to face. While making arrests is one of our key priorities, keeping officers and the community safe in the middle of a public order situation has to take precedence.
“It is my job to ensure that where live arrests are not possible the evidence is gathered in such a way that we can present the strongest possible case in court.
“Judge us against our actions. There will be significant arrests. Anybody who was out rioting in the past few nights should be aware that we may come knocking on their door and arresting them,” he stated.
DCI Little appealed to everybody in the community to come forward and assist detectives with the investigation.
“We are everybody’s police service – no right-thinking person wants to see their police service exposed to these levels of violence.
“The public know who these people are – there is an onus on them to isolate these individuals and help us bring them before the courts. It is unacceptable that police and communities have to endure this annual event of recreational rioting – and of sinister elements hiding behind children. These people use our local children as ‘sand-bags’.
“I would appeal to parents – please get your children off the street, for their own safety. Those hiding behind them in the shadows are not the ones with the petrol bombs in their hands. And they are not the ones ending up with criminal records which could seriously affect that young person’s future.”
Meanwhile, detectives in South and East Belfast have been running a robust and proactive operation to bring those responsible for rioting in the South and East of the city before the courts.
Officers have made 10 arrests – seven in the Ormeau Road area for riotous behaviour and three in the Albertbridge Road area for attempted murder (throwing a petrol bomb into a car), riotous behaviour and disorderly behaviour. Those arrested range between 15 and 20 years of age.
Police also seized 33 paint bombs and more than 100 bottles likely to be used for the manufacture of paint or petrol bombs during targeted searches in South and East Belfast last night. Further arrest operations are planned.
