Those engaged in ongoing sectarian violence against people in the Fountain Estate have to stop
June 17th 2026
On Wednesday 10th June a young man walking home in the Fountain and was hit across the jaw with an iron bar by someone on an e-bike, breaking two teeth. On Saturday 13th June, police received reports that youths, their faces disguised with hoodies, were throwing stones into the Fountain Estate and youths in black on e-scooters smashed a car window with a fire extinguisher on Hawkins Street.
Five people were arrested for offences including riotous behaviour, and a golf club and other items were seized from the area. These latest attacks follow incidents in May when Police officers responded to reports of anti-social behaviour in the Nailors Row and Fountain area. On other occasions fireworks were thrown into the estate and sectarian slurs were shouted from the city walls into the estate.
The ongoing sectarian violence against the Fountain Estate must be stopped and those engaged in sectarian hate crimes should be held accountable.
Sectarianism and racism are hate crimes and must be called out by politicians, community, and civic leaders. There should be no place in our society for hatred. The people in the Fountain Estate are entitled to live in peace without the fear of sectarian violence. Children should not have to be brought in from playing because of these attacks.
The Workers Party condemns without reservation the sectarian hatred that is being directed at these small Protestant enclave , and is calling on the authorities to take action against the perpetrators.
All manifestations of hate crimes be treated with equal seriousness and dealt with using the full force of the law. There can be no room in our society for any form of sectarian or racial violence or for hatred of any marginalised groups of citizens.