A heartfelt appeal has been made by Ballymena Fire station commander Archie McKay for anyone who has information about a brick attack on one of his support staff to come forward.
The staff member had been driving a Fire and Rescue Service van at 4pm on May 7 when he stopped at traffic lights at the Waveney Road-Galgorm Road junction – and was struck on the head by a brick. The brick was thrown through an open side window of t
he vehicle.
Mr McKay said the staff member injured had only recently started working for the Fire Service.
“This is a member of support staff and not an operational fire- fighter,” he said.
“Unfortunately firefighters have become used to having occasional attacks, but it is some welcome to the Fire Service for a member of support staff.
“I feel all attacks on the Fire Service are abhorrent and a disgrace. This happened at 4pm on a sunny afternoon and the mind boggles as to why.
“After the incident the fella looked stunned. The fact is the brick struck about two inches away from his eye – and if the van had been moving he could have crashed.
“This was an easy target for these big brave thugs – a fella travelling on his own with the window down on a hot day.
“I am appealing for anyone with information about the incident to contact the police immediately.”
Police investigating the incident say that there were a number of young people in the area at the time.
The culprit has been described as being in his late teens, approximately 5ft 4in, with dark, short cropped hair.
The full article contains 279 words and appears in News Letter newspaper.
