Margaret Ritchie condems violence in Kilcooley

Commenting on the violence in Bangor, Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie today said:

"I want to condemn outright the appalling violence in Kilcooley. The decent, law-abiding people in Kilcooley have the same right to be free of violence and crime as the rest of us. I am also deeply disturbed at the apparent use of guns against the police. The PSNI should be able to go about their duties without fear of threat of violence against them. Guns have no place in the peaceful society we are trying to create.

"I am very concerned at reports of UDA involvement in these serious disturbances, and I will want to consider the PSNI's assessmemt at the earliest opportunity."