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A police watchdog has launched an investigation after the victim of a Troubles shooting was arrested at an anniversary event.<\/p>\nA police watchdog has launched an investigation after the victim of a Troubles shooting was arrested at an anniversary event.<\/p>\n
Mark Sykes was detained in the Ormeau Road area of Belfast after officers intervened at the memorial marking the 29th anniversary of a loyalist massacre at Sean Graham\u2019s bookmakers shop, his lawyer said.<\/p>\n
The Police Ombudsman\u2019s Office said officers were involved in an \u201caltercation\u201d with a group of people who had gathered at an event to mark the anniversary and one person had been arrested.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for the Police Ombudsman\u2019s Office said: \u201cWe are aware of the incident and have received a complaint about what happened.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur investigation will focus on establishing all of the facts surrounding the incident and investigators will be examining all available evidence in order to consider the appropriateness of the actions taken by police, including the arrest.\u201d<\/p>\n
PSNI chief constable Simon Byrne appealed for calm following the incident.<\/p>\n
Mr Byrne said: \u201cI fully recognize the sensitivities of this incident and just how difficult a day this would have already been for the families who lost loved ones in the atrocity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat should not be forgotten.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are acutely aware that this is the latest incident to raise concerns about the enforcement of coronavirus regulations and illustrates there are no easy answers,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Mr Byrne said officers came across a group of between 30 and 40 people gathered at a memorial event on the Ormeau Road at 2.30pm on Friday and that as the event concluded, two officers approached a person to talk to him about a breach of the Health Protection Regulations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe situation quickly escalated and a man was arrested for disorderly behavior and resisting arrest.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was later released.<\/p>\n
In the course of the incident a police officer sustained a minor injury to his face.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in Deputy First Minister Michelle O\u2019Neill has described the PSNI\u2019s response to the arrest of a Troubles victim at a anniversary event as \u201cinadequate and insulting\u201d.<\/p>\n
She called for an urgent meeting with the chief constable to discuss what she described as the \u201cawful scenes\u201d in Belfast on Friday.<\/p>\n
Ms O\u2019Neill said: \u201cThe PSNI\u2019s response tonight to the incident at a wreath laying for the anniversary of the Sean Graham\u2019s Bookies Massacre is inadequate and insulting.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis standard of policing is unacceptable and I have requested an urgent meeting with the Chief Constable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long called for calm and cool heads to prevail following the arrest.<\/p>\n
She said it was always going to be a \u201cpainful and difficult day\u201d for the survivors and the families of those murdered at Sean Graham\u2019s bookmakers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand why the events this afternoon have left emotions running high,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, we now need calm and cool heads to prevail.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said funerals and memorials are particularly sensitive when it comes to enforcement of coronavirus regulations and she appealed for everyone to work together to get through these challenges during the pandemic.<\/p>\n
Five people, including a 15-year-old boy, were murdered and several others injured in February 1992 when Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) opened fire at the bookies.<\/p>\n
Footage of angry exchanges involving officers and those attending Friday\u2019s event have been posted online.<\/p>\n
Public gatherings of more than six people are currently prevented under Covid-19 lockdown regulations in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
Mr Sykes\u2019 lawyer Niall Murphy said: \u201cEvery year the victims and survivors gather in dignity to remember their loved ones and to say a short prayer.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year because of Covid restrictions it was restricted to the five families who maintained a dignified silence and left flowers down.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe police attended, for what reason I will never know, approached victims and survivors of an atrocity and commenced to harass, push and assault man, woman and child.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only disorderly behavior that happened on the Ormeau Road today was by the police who had no right to be there and who have wreaked havoc on community relations both in the Ormeau Road and in the wider community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n