Alliance man 'shocked and appalled' as boat set ablaze after dispute over Irish tricolour flag in quiet coastal village of Portballintrae
An Alliance Party councillor has declared himself “shocked and appalled” at the torching of a vessel at Portballintrae in a dispute over a flag.
Richard Stewart said he had spoken to a number of residents about the crime, and they had expressed “disgust” – as well as concern for how it would make the area look.
Alderman Stewart stressed such an incident is “unheard-of” in the small coastal village, less than a mile east of Dunluce Castle on the north coast.
The PSNI had said the following: "At approximately 7.45pm on Monday, 3rd June police received a report that an altercation had ensued between a number of men in the pier area concerning a flag that was displayed on a boat.
“The boat was later set alight and extensively damaged.”
The News Letter understands that the flag in question was an Irish tricolour.
Portballintrae is an overwhelmingly Protestant village.
It is not clear if the flag belonged to an outside visitor to the harbour, or someone from the local area.
"Officers attended the scene, and one man required hospital treatment for his injuries,” the police statement added.
"Three men aged 25, 63 and 30, were all arrested on suspicion of a number of offences including criminal damage and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
"The 63-year-old man has since been released on bail, whilst the other two men remain in custody at this time as enquiries continue.
"We are treating this report as a sectarian-motivated hate crime and we are keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and noticed what happened.”
During Tuesday evening, the 25 year old and 30 year old were also bailed “to allow for further enquiries”.
Councillor Stewart said: “It’s absolutely outrageous behaviour. It really needs to be called out for what it is.
"I’ve never heard of anything like that in Portballintrae – or anywhere in the north coast.
"That’s definitely something from the past, and that’s where it should stay.
"For something like this to be happening, and in Portballintrae of all places, it’s unheard-of.”