Fountain 'vigilante' claim

In recent weeks there has been an escalation in incidents at the Fountain/Bishop Street interface as well as inside the estate itself. It is believed that children as young as seven were involved in these incidents. However, a series of events last weekend gave a more sinister edge to the ongoing strife as it is claimed that those making the latest incursions into the estate were aged from 16-25.

The Sentinel was asked to speak to a group of young men, aged from their early 20s in to their 30s, in the estate on Monday afternoon who claimed that they will 'patrol' the district from this weekend.

The men said the weekend's events have acted as the final catalyst in them taking this step.

According to the men, the first incident happened at around midnight last Friday when kerbstones at the foot of Wapping Lane were daubed green, white and orange. Simultaneously, a mural inside the heart of the estate was hit with three or four paint bombs.

The young men, who do not wished to be named, said that from 2pm onwards on Saturday a regular onslaught of bottles was hurled into the estate. As in recent weeks the attacks took place from the Nailor's Row area. The Fountain residents claimed that the attackers were drinking on the banking overlooking the Bogside and when they had drained their supply, got rid of the bottles by pitching them at the interface.

Another weekend focal point for the attackers to gather was at the Foyle Valley Railway Museum where, residents claim, up to 40 drunken youths gathered in the early hours of Saturday morning before attacking George's Street with bricks and bottles at around 1am.

The men also stated that trouble began to flare again at around 2.30pm on Sunday afternoon and continued sporadically throughout the day. They said 20 or so older youths gathered at Fountain Street until eventually cars carrying the attackers entered the estate. Youths then got out of the cars, brandishing wheel braces and crow bars. The men claimed that hand-to-hand fighting ensued and one man from the Fountain sustained head wounds in the incident.

It was also claimed that even after this, what they called "boy racers" entered the Fountain via London Street, blaring car horns and shouting sectarian abuse into the early hours of Monday morning.

One of the men said: "The way it is now is that if we phone the police we are told that they are under resourced, so we can no longer rely on them.

"So, from this weekend there will be vigilantes about to defend this area. We don't want to do this but we will. If the police can't police the area, we have no option left but to do this. If the police, can't or won't patrol the area, we will."

The men insisted that there will be no paramilitary involvement in their actions and that no one will be forced to go out on patrol of the district.One man suggested that since cars carrying attackers were now making regular incursions into the estate they are fearful that people socialising in neighbouring houses could be set upon on their way home in the early hours of the morning.

"We are not talking about individuals who are drunk making their way in and smashing a window. We are now looking at gangs attacking people with wheel braces. This is attempted murder whether they realise this or not."

Another of the men said that the situation was currently as bad as his childhood in the Fountain during the 1980s.

"When all the houses in Wapping Lane were occupied back then, the people had an air horn that used to go off at all hours if we were under attack. It looks as if it's going back to that.

"They say there is a peace process in Northern Ireland. There's no peace process in the Fountain."

In response to the criticism levelled at the PSNI by residents of the Fountain, a police spokeswoman said: "While we understand the frustrations of local residents living at interface areas it is not acceptable for the public to take the law into their own hands. Response and neighbourhood officers assisted by colleagues in the Tactical Support Group continue to work in partnership with the community to resolve these issues.

"We have a team dedicated to investigating violence at interface areas and we are currently reviewing CCTV evidence in order to identify those involved. Police in Foyle take sectarian hate crime very seriously and have arrested over 100 people involved in such offences over the last 12 months. For the safety of everyone it is imperative that policing matters are left to the police. Anyone who wishes to work with us to find a long-term solution to these problems should contact the local Neighbourhood Policing Team directly."

The PSNI also confirmed they are investigating a disturbance in the Fountain over the weekend. A spokesperson said: "Officers responded to reports of stone throwing in Fountain street at around 2am on Monday (June 7). Two cars belonging to members of the public were damaged as a result of the incident. We are also investigating reports of males acting suspiciously in a car around 1am.

Anyone with information should call 08456008000.