Mayor Attacked with Placard as Councillors Face Intimidation

A council meeting in Newtownabbey turned chaotic on March 19, 2024, when Mayor Leah Kirkpatrick was reportedly shoved with a placard, and several councillors faced verbal harassment and physical intimidation from a protesting crowd. The incident unfolded outside the Antrim and Newtownabbey Council’s headquarters at Mossley Mill after the meeting concluded on Monday night.

Approximately 30 individuals gathered outside the venue, brandishing posters, including one featuring an AI-generated image of Sinn Féin leaders surrounded by crocodiles in the colours of the Palestinian flag. Among the protesters was Mark Sinclair, known as “Freedom Dad,” who has gained notoriety as a citizen journalist with a controversial background.

The protest was announced online hours before it commenced, although its location was not widely publicised. Organisers reportedly invited specific individuals to ensure a targeted turnout. Footage shared on YouTube shows Sinclair trailing councillors as they made their way to their vehicles, while officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) monitored the situation.

Leah Kirkpatrick expressed her shock in a statement following the incident, noting, “I am shocked and dismayed by what I saw last night with the deliberate intimidation of elected representatives outside the council chamber.” She contrasted the disruptive scenes outside with the positive atmosphere within the meeting, which witnessed a historic moment with an all-female leadership team and a unanimous decision condemning graffiti on the Glengormley war memorial.

Kirkpatrick continued, “The scenes outside were nothing short of chaos and should never have happened; it was a step too far. I personally experienced being shoved with a placard by one of the protesters, whether accidental or not, they shouldn’t have been so close.” She raised concerns about the PSNI’s response, stating that it “left much to be desired.”

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) group leader, Mark Cosgrove, added that while the right to peaceful protest is respected, threats and intimidation against elected representatives are unacceptable. He stated, “We will never accept any attempt to bully or threaten councillors. We are not going back to the dark days; this is a democracy. If people feel strongly about an issue, they should make their voices heard at the ballot box, not through threats and intimidation.”

In a similar vein, the leader of the Sinn Féin council group, Maighréad Ní Chonghaile, condemned the actions of the crowd. She described how councillors were “verbally accosted and physically intimidated” as they left the meeting. Ní Chonghaile reported that the group of protesters threatened councillors verbally while invading their personal space with lights and cameras.

She stated, “I absolutely condemn this attempt to interfere with public representatives conducting their lawful democratic business.” Following the incident, Sinn Féin has called for a review of security arrangements for councillors attending council meetings. Ní Chonghaile plans to meet with both the council’s chief executive and the PSNI district commander to address what she termed an attempt at mob rule.

A spokesperson for the PSNI confirmed that they were aware of the planned protest and had officers present to ensure public safety and facilitate the right to peaceful assembly. Superintendent Rosie Thompson stated, “Police will review all evidence gathered, and inquiries into the matter are ongoing.”

The police force also offered to collaborate with the council, inviting representatives from all political parties to discuss safety measures for elected officials. Thompson emphasised that the PSNI is committed to ensuring local representatives feel supported and can perform their duties without fear of intimidation.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is currently investigating the incident in conjunction with the PSNI, as the community seeks to navigate the implications of this troubling event. The council has stated that it is liaising with elected members and law enforcement to address the situation.

With tensions heightened and political representatives feeling threatened, the focus now shifts to restoring a sense of safety and decorum in local governance.