Violence iscondemned

Describing the latest outbreak of violence as “a recipe for ruined futures and community impoverishment,” Cllr Lockhart said:

“This latest spate of violence needs to be condemned and opposed by all political and community representatives.

“I want to commend the PSNI officers who routinely put their own safety on the line on our behalf.

“But let us be very clear: those who were involved in this eruption of violence didn’t come into the area from Londonderry or Enniskillen or Belfast – they came from nearby.

"I would appeal to parents. There are malign elements out there who are actively seeking to exploit young people and use them to confront the police in an attempt to stoke up community unrest and to use them as decoys so that they can target police officers for murder.

“This is a recipe for ruined futures and community impoverishment. It condemns young people and blights their own communities. This cycle of violent confrontation with the police should end immediately.”