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Disorder erupted in a part of west Belfast on Saturday night, leading to police closing off a section of the Stewartstown Road due to the presence of large crowds. Social media footage showed young people climbing on top of police Land Rovers, prompting concern from local representatives and residents. Sinn Féin assembly member Danny Baker described the situation as “absolute chaos” and expressed his frustration over the disruption.
Baker detailed how the main thoroughfare was effectively shut down by groups of young people intent on causing trouble and destruction. He emphasized the ongoing nature of anti-social behavior in the area, noting that police had recently increased patrols following reports of stones and bottles being thrown at flats and buses along Stewartstown Road. Baker lamented that residents and businesses were once again trapped by the disorder, and youth workers who tried to intervene faced intimidation from those on the sidelines. He added, “This is not the Colin I know, the Colin I represent or the Colin I love.”
Paul Maskey, Sinn Féin MP for west Belfast, also condemned the disruption, stating, “The people of Colin deserve better.” Maskey criticized those causing chaos for threatening residents, blocking a vital road linking communities, and intimidating youth workers. He urged people involved to cease their actions before anyone suffered serious harm. Meanwhile, independent councillor Paul Doherty described the situation on Stewartstown Road as “absolute chaos” and said the area was “out of control.” He highlighted the lack of responsibility shown by those involved and questioned how parents could be unaware of their children’s involvement in such events without intervening.
Doherty called for a more effective response, stating that current efforts to tackle the problem were not working. He also took to social media to commend council workers who arrived early Sunday to clear up the damage left behind by the disorder. The incident once again spotlighted long-standing concerns about anti-social behavior and the impact on the local community in west Belfast
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