Officer injured and three people arrested in Holyland area of Belfast
One police officer has been injured and three people have been arrested after disturbances in the Holyland area of south Belfast.
Police were attacked with bottles in Agincourt Avenue as a crowd of about 300 people gathered in the area.
The disturbances lasted for over two hours, ending at about 04:30 GMT.
Police said they went to the area after a crowd was reported to be blocking the road and throwing missiles at homes and cars.
Vehicles parked along the street were damaged during the trouble.
One police officer said some people in the crowd had been singing “pro-IRA songs”.
The officer who was injured was hit on the shoulder with a bottle.
Officers were in riot gear and had police dogs.
The three men who were arrested are aged 19, 20 and 21.
Supt Darrin Jones said: “Police will continue to have a visible presence in the area over the coming days.
“I would strongly encourage people to consider the long term consequences of engaging in any anti-social or criminal behaviour. This could lead to you receiving a fine and a criminal record.”
One student living in the area said the crowd had been good-natured before the police arrived.
Another told the BBC: “It was very hectic, some would say mayhem, it was very crazy.
“There was a lot of jumping on cars, hitting cars, speeding cars, they’re was a couple of boys getting hit and whatever.
“But at the same time there was a lot of good craic going on.”
The area has been the scene of disturbances on previous St Patrick’s Days.
Ray Farley of the Belfast Holyland Regeneration Association described Thursday morning’s trouble as disgraceful.
“It’s the old expression ‘when the drink gets in, the sense goes out’,” he said.
“These folks, the next day when they’re being disciplined or whatever’s happening, they’re the saddest people, but when they’re with their friends they think they’re invulnerable.
“They must understand that this could have serious repercussions because if you are arrested for something like this you won’t be able to go to America, you won’t be able to get certain jobs, you will have great difficulty.
“So I’d stress to people please don’t get yourself into the situation where you’re going to drink to excess.”
Briege Ruddy, from College Park Avenue Residents’ Association, also condemned the disturbances.
“We will challenge this behaviour, because this is our area, residents have a right to live here, we have a right to sleep and to carry on with our work and we will do that and eventually this will change,” she said.
