Youths attack firemen in incident at Flying Horse

Youths attack firemen in incident at Flying Horse

19 June 2019

DOWNPATRICK firemen responding to a 999 call at the town’s Flying Horse estate last week were targeted by stone-throwing youths.

A missile struck the windscreen of the fire appliance as it headed into the estate from the direction of the Killough Road on Tuesday evening of last week.

While what is believed to have been a stone bounced off the windscreen, firemen say it is fortunate that the glass did not shatter, showering the crew in fragments of sharp glass. Damage was also caused to the side of the vehicle.

The incident — which has been condemned by South Down MLA Emma Rogan and Downpatrick councillor Oonagh Hanlon — is the latest in a number of similar attacks on vehicles at this part of the town.

Last month, two cars were attacked at the Killough Road and Flying Horse roads.

During the first incident, a female driver had a lucky escape in a terrifying incident when the windscreen of her car was shattered by a stone as she drove along the Flying Horse Road.

A number of days later, another woman’s car was struck by a missile as she drove along the Killough Road en route to the town centre. 

The lady had just negotiated a mini roundabout, close to the Ballymote health and wellbeing centre when her vehicle, which sustained substantial windscreen damage, was targeted. The windscreen had to be replaced.

The two incidents took place soon after a public protest in the area demanded an end to trouble at this part of the town after three other vehicles belonging to pensioners were targeted by children throwing missiles.

In one particularly frightening incident, a elderly man was showered with fragments of broken glass after the driver’s window of his car was smashed. 

The Flying Horse Ward Community Forum staged the protest, appealing for the trouble to end, with members of the group urging parents to warn their children not to get involved in behaviour which could lead to a major incident.

The most recent incident involving the fire engine has been described by Ms Rogan and Cllr Hanlon as “disgraceful”. They said firefighters should not be targeted when responding to emergency calls from the public for help.

“Fire crews work very long hours and, in most cases, fit the roll around a full-time. They do not need this added pressure of threatening attacks from young people,” declared the Assemblywoman.

“Recently, the level of anti-social behaviour at this part of Downpatrick has been lower than in previous years, but our concern would be that if the issue is not dealt with in a proactive manner, we could see this escalate.”

Ms Rogan confirmed that she has spoken with local police and welcomed PSNI assurances that greater focus will be paid to this part of Downpatrick in the lead-up to the summer holidays in a bid to stop unruly behaviour escalating.

Cllr Hanlon described the attack as a “stressful and frightening experience”, labelling what happened as a “thoughtless act”. She said this type of behaviour served no purpose. 

“Acts like these ultimately put the wider community at risk should the Fire and Rescue Service decide it is unsafe for their crew to enter these areas, especially at night,” she continued.

“A proactive, multi-agency approach will be needed to stop this behaviour. I have already spoken to police, the local Fire and Rescue Service Commander and the district’s Policing and Community Safety Partnership.”

Cllr Hanlon also confirmed that she will be meeting with officials from the various agencies to discuss a way forward and to work alongside others to address the problems at this part of the town.

She added: “Ultimately, it is parents who need to ensure they know where their children are and what they are doing. I would urge people to remain vigilant and if the have any information about what happened last week to pass it to police using the non-emergency 101 number.”