Loyalists confront Catholic children in Rasharkin with weapons

North Antrim Sinn Féin MLA Daithí McKay has condemned an incident in Rasharkin where a group of loyalists confronted a number of Catholic teenagers armed with a wheelbrace, hockey stick and stanley knife.

Mr McKay said

"I am aware that the incident occured in Rasharkin last night after a number of men were asked to leave a cafe in the village where they were directing sectarian abuse at a number of teenagers. After the teenagers themselves left the cafe they were confronted by the same men who threatened them with a wheelbrace, a hockey stick and a stanley knife.

"These men were intoxicated and represented a significant threat to members of the public on the Main Street in the village. At 9.10pm last night I contacted the PSNI who were to come out to the village and take statements from the young people involved who were clearly very shaken up by what was a quite traumatic incident. The PSNI did not come out to take these statements last night. They then put out a press statement about the incident without trying to ascertain the version of events from all parties involved. I find this both unprofessional and totally unacceptable.

"It is an absolute disgrace that these loyalists who brought weapons onto the streets of Rasharkin last night have not been arrested." ENDS