Cops storm Bloody Sunday train
A Newtownabbey father of two has hit out at police after they stormed a train returning from the Bloody Sunday march at the weekend and used CS spray while his kids were on board.
Bawnmore man Liam Hughes had taken his two children, five year old Ché and three year old Keeley, to the annual Bloody Sunday commemoration in Derry on Sunday along with a number of other local people.
During their return home on the train on Sunday evening police entered the train at Coleraine saying they were responding to a disturbance and deployed CS spray in the carriage. A number of people were then forced to leave the carriage before being allowed back on.
The 31-year old said the family day out was destroyed by the incident.
“We got to Coleraine and about 15 police officers got on and started spraying the CS spray and dragging people off the train. I couldn’t believe it, they were spraying it just a few seats away from where my kids were sitting.
“Then we all were forced off the train and a girl I know had to take my wee boy while I got my wee girl off. It was pandemonium. I lost my kids at one point there was that much going on, it was terrible.”
The family were later allowed back on the train and returned home, however Liam said the incident has affected his two children.
“I was really worried about the CS spray in their eyes so I took them to the doctor the next day and thankfully they are ok. But they’ve been asking me about it a lot and they are afraid from it.”
He said he plans to make a complaint to the Police Ombudsman.
“I have an appointment set up with my solicitor and plan to make a complaint. They were completely heavy handed and forceful. They sprayed this spray yards from where they could see two young children were. It was inexcusable.”
A spokeswoman for the PSNI confirmed they were called to the train on Sunday. A 62 year old man and a 40 year old man are expected to appear at North Antrim Magistrates Court on February 23rd charged with a number of offences including disorderly behaviour and assault on police. They are not connected to Mr Hughes. She also confirmed a number of people unconnected to the disorder were moved to another carriage.
