Sean Graham Bookmakers row: One PSNI officer involved is ‘a Catholic from Republic of Ireland’ who suffered mild concussion during incident
and live on Freeview channel 276
The arrest took place on the Ormeau Road in Belfast on Friday after an event to mark the murder of five people at Sean Graham bookmaker’s by the UDA in February 1992.
Two PSNI officers were directed to intervene by superior officers due to concerns that Covid regulations were being breached by the size of the gathering.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdA survivor of the atrocity, Mark Sykes, was arrested on suspicion of disorderly behaviour and resisting arrest.
But after an outcry about the arrest, Chief Constable Simon Byrnes suspended one officer involved, repositioned another and apologised for their conduct.
The Nolan Show today reported that the Police Federation is preparing legal papers telling the PSNI it should lift the suspension.
It reported that one police officer involved in the incident suffered a mild concussion but that this had nothing to do with the man who was arrested, Mark Sykes.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe BBC also reported that this officer was a Catholic from the Republic of Ireland who joined the PSNI because he wanted to improve the representation of nationalists in Northern Ireland.
The Police Federation Chairman Mark Lindsay has already gone on record to say that one officer was Protestant and the other was Catholic.
In an extended interview with the ‘Nolan Show’ on Monday Chief Constable Simon Byrne said the actions of his two officers “do not reflect the values of the Police Service of Northern Ireland” while going on to justify the suspension of one officer and the moving of another to different duties.
However, he did not mention that the two officers had only intervened on the direction of their superior officer regarding Covid restrictions on public gatherings, which the PSNI confirmed yesterday.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdA PSNI spokeswoman said that the two officers “sought advice from their sergeant and were advised to engage”.
The PSNI said one man was then arrested on suspicion of disorderly behaviour and resisting arrest.
Police also confirmed that one police officer suffered a minor face injury.
The two officers graduated from policing college only last year.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdSpeaking of the two officers, chairman of the Police Federation, Mark Lindsay, said: “They are feeling very let down. They are feeling quite confused. One officer is particularly hurt, he feels he was assaulted. He was subjected to a lot of abuse.”
He said that one officer was Catholic and another was Protestant.
READ MORE:
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdDisciplined PSNI rookies were directed by superiors to intervene at Ormeau Road event, police reveal
A message from the Editor:
Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdWith the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.
Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.
Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.
Alistair Bushe
Editor