Skip to content

Eight police officers injured in disorder after Irish Cup final

Alan Lewis A young person with his face covered in a red mask throws a glass bottle of beer in the air towards a crowd behind the camera. Behind the young person is another person wearing a red balaclava and sunglasses. There are a crowd of people in the distance but their faces are blurred.Alan Lewis
The disorder took place near Windsor Park

Eight police officers have been injured after disorder broke out following the Irish Cup final in south Belfast on Saturday.

Dungannon Swifts won the title for the first time after defeating Cliftonville in a penalty shootout at Windsor Park.

After the match, at about 17:30 BST, police said a small minority of football fans threw items at officers near the Broadway roundabout. All remained on duty.

Three people were arrested - two adults for disorderly behaviour and one juvenile for possessing a flare - and five were cautioned for possession of fireworks.

Alan Lewis A shot of five police officers in black riot gear and holding large plastic shields running towards a crowd in the distance. There is a marked police car parked in between the officers and the crowd.Alan Lewis
Items were thrown at officers

Ch Insp Mark Conway of the Police Service of Northern Ireland ( PSNI) said the vast majority of those who attended Saturday's match behaved in a "peaceful manner".

Alan Lewis A number of hooded and masked individuals gathered around a 'road closed' sign with traffic cones and toppled over bins which have been set on fire. There are a number of parked cars on either side of the group in the middle. In the distance there are more people watching on.Alan Lewis
Police said a "small minority" took part in criminal activity after the final

"However we will not tolerate disruption, disorder or criminal behaviour of any kind," he added.

"As always, we will continue to work with football clubs to address any criminal activity linked to people attending matches and ensure that supporters are kept safe."

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) councillor Tracy Kelly said it was "quite disappointing to see the minority of Cliftonville fans on their way to the match and returning home causing some disruption and trouble".

She said the Broadway roundabout is "an interface area that has seen a lot of trouble in the last 18 months and a lot of children getting involved in violence".

She claimed there were pro-IRA chants on Saturday.

"It's very, very disturbing. The Village community has seen a lot of trouble over the Troubles, we know that, a lot of hurt and a lot of families who have seen their family members be killed, injured," she said.

Kelly said it was "noticeable that it is a small minority of Cliftonville fans".

"The club did put out a statement calling for no fan walk and distancing themselves from anybody who was there to cause trouble, which was very, very welcomed."

BBC News NI has contacted the PSNI and Cliftonville for comment about this.