Fountain resident calls for tougher sentences for interface attacks

Police were again called to the Fountain/Bishop Street interface on Monday night following claims that a mob of nationalist youths, up to 25 strong, bombarded the loyalist estate with stones and paint bombs.

The Fountain incident followed some sectarian trouble at the interface of Tullyally/Curryneirin.

Last week, the Sentinel reported a concentrated paint bomb attack on the home of Fountain resident, Alex McClements. Mr McClements again witnessed the attack on the estate on Monday night.

He told the Sentinel: "I was in the Waterside collecting my son around 8pm on Monday night when I got a text saying the stones were bouncing off the houses and that two paint bombs had been thrown. They landed at the side of my house this time.

"I counted about 20 or 25 youths standing at the bottom of Nailors Row, coming up and throwing stones."

The Fountain man said the attacks had been ongoing again since Sunday past.

"It started on Sunday teatime. There was a party going on in the middle of the estate to celebrate Rangers winning the league. It wasn't bothering anyone," said Mr McClements.

Last week, the Fountain resident told the Sentinel that he did not wish to see any young person end up in court and subsequently detained in a young offenders centre. However, the latest series of incidents has prompted him to change his mind and he said: "Take them to court. It is obviously the only way they are going to learn. And, they need to be given stiffer sentences, not just a slap on the wrist.

"I feel really sorry for the old people in Alexander House."

Mr McClements also called for heightened action from the PSNI and for more use to be made from CCTV camera footage in the area in arresting culprits responsible for the attacks.

A statement from the PSNI confirmed the attacks. A police spokeswoman said: "On Sunday evening police responded to concerns from residents reporting youths throwing bottles and stones in the Nailors Row area. Police made contact with community representatives and maintained a presence in the area for a few hours. Stones were thrown at officers in the Ardmore Road area around 9pm on the same night.

"On Monday night police responded to a report of youths throwing stones at each other in the Milltown View area. Officers patrolled the area and spoke with community reps and called with a number of residents. In a separate incident the remains of a paint bomb were also recovered in the Nailors Row area.

"If anyone has concerns about anti-social behaviour in the area please contact your local Neighbourhood Team who are keen to work with residents to alleviate this problem. Telephone: 08456008000."