PSNI reviewing footage after ‘un-notified procession’ in Newtownabbey

It is understood the event was organised by a group called ‘Newtownabbey Combined Loyalists’ in response to concerns surrounding the Northern Ireland Protocol and recent attacks at Glengormley’s War Memorial.

Ahead of last night’s demonstration, the organisers said wreaths would be “replaced in a respectful and dignified manner”.

Photographs shared on social media show dozens of people walking along the Ballyclare Road towards the Lilian Bland Community Park.

PSNI Superintendent Jeremy Lindsay said: “Police are aware of an un-notified procession that took place in the Glengormley area of Newtownabbey last night (April 21).

“Organisers of parades are required to give formal notification of their intentions. Warnings were given to participants last night and an evidence-gathering operation was in place.

“We will now review all the footage gathered and consider any suspected breaches of the Public Processions (NI) Act 1998 and the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) Regulations NI 2020.”

A PSNI spokesperson confirmed there were no reports of violence at last night’s event.

Police are investigating as a hate crime an attack on Glengormley War Memorial on April 1. For more on this story, read here

The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Councillor Jim Montgomery, attended the memorial in the wake of the incident to re-lay a wreath.

--

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We’re more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.
Please consider purchasing a copy of the paper. You can also support trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription of the News Letter.