At around 11.45pm on May 11, 2002, rioting broke out at the interface between the predominantly Catholic Short Strand area and surrounding areas of Protestant housing in East Belfast. The reason for the disorder is unclear, with each side blaming the other for starting the trouble.
Rival youths fought hand-to-hand in the Madrid Street/Thistle Court/Bryson Street area. Missiles were also thrown, including bricks, bottles, acid bombs and blast bombs. Police found themselves with insufficient resources available in the area due to the rapid and spontaneous manner in which the violence escalated. The only unit in attendance was a single police Land Rover, the driver of which attempted to keep the rival factions apart by driving slowly up and down the street between them until additional police resources arrived.
Three police Tactical Support Group Units (TSGs) arrived at the scene a short time later and took up position in surrounding streets. The police were subsequently attacked by rioters and, during the course of the disorder, baton rounds were fired. A number of police officers were seriously injured and a police Land Rover set on fire and destroyed.
A male civilian suffered severe head injuries during this time, and subsequent press reports suggested that the injuries had been caused by the police. The Police Ombudsman accepted a request from the PSNI to investigate the allegations.
A separate Regulation 20 report has been prepared in relation to the discharge of baton rounds in this incident.
Outcome of investigation:
After a full investigation of the incident, the Police Ombudsman concluded that the evidence did not substantiate the allegation that a police officer had been responsible for inflicting the serious head injury.
During their enquiries Police Ombudsman investigators viewed a police video of the unrest and an amateur video made available to them by people living in the area. Both tapes were forensically enhanced by a team of independent specialists in England.
Although the footage does not show the man sustaining his injury, it clearly shows that at the time of the incident an array of missiles, including broken bricks, bottles and paving slabs, were being thrown into the area in which he was standing.
At one stage the amateur footage shows him attempting to diffuse a confrontation between the police and members of the public. He was seen to be acting as a peacemaker, trying to calm a tense situation.
David Wood, the Police Ombudsman’s Executive Director, commented: “The man did not have the protection of the shields the police officers had, and there is the possibility he was hit by one of these missiles.”
Police Ombudsman investigators reviewed the man’s medical records and interviewed medical staff who examined him upon his arrival at hospital after sustaining his injuries. The medical evidence suggested it was unlikely the man had been struck with a police baton.
Investigators also acquired statements from a number of civilian witnesses. In the light of the other evidence available, these statements did not offer sufficient evidence to prove that police officers had been responsible for the man’s injuries.
