'Withdraw support for police' says ex-SDLP councillor

A FORMER SDLP councillor has called on nationalists to withdraw their support for the PSNI following incidents he alleged happened in Rasharkin on the night of the Ballymaconnelly Band Parade.

By The Newsroom

Published 30th Aug 2010, 18:37 BST

Charley ‘Pappy’ O’Kane from Dunloy, in a statement to the Times, said: “The actions of the PSNI/RUC in Rasharkin showed me that their attitude towards the nationalist community hasn’t changed and after all these years of policing loyalist band parades in nationalist areas they have learned nothing.

“I would call on all the nationalist people to withdraw their support for the PSNI/RUC.

“This is a police service that doesn’t deserve our support.”

Mr O’Kane said he challenged police at the scene to justify the actions against young nationalist youths.

The former councillor added: “The parade was over and the bands were away but the PSNI/RUC still wanted to push and baton charge the young people just standing about the street.”

PSNI