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Man in 'tar and feather' attack Tar and feather attack 'barbaric'
(about 3 hours later)
A man was subjected to a so-called 'tarring and feathering' attack in south Belfast on Sunday. Police have described as "brutal and barbaric" an attack on a man who was tarred and feathered in south Belfast.
It is thought the attack was carried out by two men wearing balaclavas as a crowd including women and children looked on. It is thought the attack was carried out on Sunday evening by two men wearing balaclavas, as a crowd including women and children looked on.
The victim was made to wear a placard reading 'I'm a drug dealing scum bag'. The victim was made to wear a placard reading "I'm a drug-dealing scumbag".
Frankie Gallagher of the UPRG, the political wing of the UDA, said the paramilitary grouping was not involved in the attack. Elements of the UDA were blamed for the attack by politicians, although its political wing denied the loyalist paramilitary group was responsible.
Mr Gallagher said that "local people had gone to the UDA to ask them to sort it out", but that it told them to go to the police. Frankie Gallagher of the Ulster Political Research Group said "local people had gone to the UDA to ask them to sort it out", but that it told them to go to the police.
He claims that the police then failed to act on information passed on and that people in the area decided to take the matter into their own hands. If people have concerns and grievances about what is happening in their local community they should bring that evidence to the police PSNI statement He claims that the police then failed to act on information passed on and that people in the area decided to take the matter into their own hands.
However, Alliance leader David Ford said: "Despite denials from the UPRG, most people will find it very hard to believe that the UDA was not involved in this despicable act." In a statement, the police said there was "no place in civilised society for people taking the law into their own hands resulting in such a brutal and barbaric attack".
The attack happened in south Belfast "We have been working closely with local community groups to try and address these issues and find solutions.
Northern Ireland's Social Development Margaret Ritchie said that this type of incident had "no place in a civilised society". "If people have concerns and grievances about what is happening in their local community they should bring that evidence to the police."
"If the UDA is involved it is a stark demonstration of the thuggery and violence which I made clear has to end if the funding to the CTI (Conflict Transformation Initiative) project is to continue," she continued. Despite denials from the UPRG, most people will find it very hard to believe that the UDA was not involved in this despicable act David FordAlliance Party Although the police were made aware of the incident at Finwood Park in Taughmonagh, by the time officers arrived in the loyalist estate, neither the victim nor his attackers could be found.
Ms Ritchie's direct rule predecessor initiated the £1.2m scheme which aimed to encourage redevelopment in loyalist communities through the UDA aligned UPRG. Alliance leader David Ford said: "Despite denials from the UPRG, most people will find it very hard to believe that the UDA was not involved in this despicable act."
On 10 August, Ms Ritchie said she would withdraw support from the project unless there was clear evidence of decommissioning and reduced criminality. 'Thuggery and violence'
No trace Northern Ireland's Social Development Margaret Ritchie warned that UDA involvement would have serious repercussions for government funding of a loyalist project.
Although the police were made aware of the incident, by the time officers arrived in the loyalist estate, neither the victim nor his attackers could be found. "If the UDA is involved, it is a stark demonstration of the thuggery and violence which I made clear has to end if the funding to the CTI (Conflict Transformation Initiative) project is to continue," said the SDLP assembly member.
"A report of an incident in Finwood Park, Taughmonagh, was received shortly after 10.10pm on Sunday evening," a spokesman said. Ms Ritchie's direct rule predecessor initiated the £1.2m scheme which aimed to encourage redevelopment in loyalist communities through the UDA-aligned UPRG.
Earlier this month, Ms Ritchie said she would withdraw support from the project unless there was clear evidence of decommissioning and reduced criminality.