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| PSNI defend train trouble action | PSNI defend train trouble action |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Police have rejected claims that they were heavy-handed in dealing with trouble on board a train from Bangor to Belfast. | Police have rejected claims that they were heavy-handed in dealing with trouble on board a train from Bangor to Belfast. |
| Fights broke out between passengers on the train on Tuesday evening. | Fights broke out between passengers on the train on Tuesday evening. |
| Officers in riot gear then escorted all the passengers off at Belfast Central Station and an onward service to Carrickfergus was cancelled. | Officers in riot gear then escorted all the passengers off at Belfast Central Station and an onward service to Carrickfergus was cancelled. |
| Chief Inspector Robert Murdy said the police had to respond in the way that they did. | Chief Inspector Robert Murdy said the police had to respond in the way that they did. |
| "Police were asked to attend Central Station by Translink due to a high degree of violence breaking out on the train from Bangor," CI Murdy said. | "Police were asked to attend Central Station by Translink due to a high degree of violence breaking out on the train from Bangor," CI Murdy said. |
| "Our officers had to respond to ensure the safety of passengers on the train and indeed to protect members of the public. | "Our officers had to respond to ensure the safety of passengers on the train and indeed to protect members of the public. |
| "We understand that this could have been very frightening for other passengers but I certainly consider that our actions were proportionate given the level of violence that was being seen on the train at that stage." | "We understand that this could have been very frightening for other passengers but I certainly consider that our actions were proportionate given the level of violence that was being seen on the train at that stage." |
| However, a passenger on the train, Selena Henderson accused the police of being "completely out of order". | However, a passenger on the train, Selena Henderson accused the police of being "completely out of order". |
| "The PSNI came onto the train and said 'everyone off the train' and everyone just looked at the police as if to say 'what's happening here'. | "The PSNI came onto the train and said 'everyone off the train' and everyone just looked at the police as if to say 'what's happening here'. |
| "But they just said everyone off the train now and started pushing and shoving all the young kids," Ms Henderson said. | "But they just said everyone off the train now and started pushing and shoving all the young kids," Ms Henderson said. |
| The police boarded the train in Belfast | The police boarded the train in Belfast |
| She said passengers had to pay for a taxi for two 12-year-old girls who had no way home to Carrickfergus. | She said passengers had to pay for a taxi for two 12-year-old girls who had no way home to Carrickfergus. |
| Translink said it has a zero tolerance policy to anti-social behaviour and requested the police to take the action. | Translink said it has a zero tolerance policy to anti-social behaviour and requested the police to take the action. |
| Petrol bomb | Petrol bomb |
| Meanwhile, a petrol bomb and other missiles were thrown at police in east Belfast. | Meanwhile, a petrol bomb and other missiles were thrown at police in east Belfast. |
| They came under attack after they were called to the Mount Pottinger area following reports of youths throwing stones. One person has been arrested. | They came under attack after they were called to the Mount Pottinger area following reports of youths throwing stones. One person has been arrested. |
| In another incident, four people were arrested following a number of disturbances in Bangor. | In another incident, four people were arrested following a number of disturbances in Bangor. |
| One man has been charged with riotous behaviour and three others have been released pending further inquiries. | |
| Trouble broke out after a junior Orange Order parade in the town. Police were deployed in full riot gear to bring the crowd under control. | Trouble broke out after a junior Orange Order parade in the town. Police were deployed in full riot gear to bring the crowd under control. |
| A spokesman for the Orange Order said they were unaware of any trouble involving orangemen. | A spokesman for the Orange Order said they were unaware of any trouble involving orangemen. |
| "The organisers of the parade feel it passed off peacefully and was enjoyed by thousands of people," he said. | "The organisers of the parade feel it passed off peacefully and was enjoyed by thousands of people," he said. |