MLA condemns 'disgusting and disgraceful' clashes surrounding League of Ireland match
Mark Durkan was speaking after the clubs drew 1-1 in their game at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, with clashes between rival fans in the area before, during and after the game.
Police have now launched an investigation and said they believe the clashes were 'pre-arranged'. Two hospitalised
The PSNI said they were alerted shortly after 7pm on Friday of two large groups of rival supporters attacking each other near the Lecky Road flyover with sticks, bats and iron bars.
They also caused damage to buildings and cars parked in the Lecky Road and Lone Moor Road areas.
A teenage boy and a man aged in his 20s were taken to hospital after being injured.
Police said further disorder then occurred in the vicinity of the stadium during and after the football match.
Videos of the clashes posted online also showed one group aiming fireworks at rival supporters.
"We believe that the disorder we witnessed on Friday evening was pre-arranged and we will be reviewing all available footage to identify those involved," said Superintendent William Calderwood. 'Organised attack'
Speaking after the game, Mr Durkan said that someone could have been killed.
"Just back from the Brandywell," said the SDLP MLA for Foyle.
"It is disgusting and disgraceful that so many football fans and families left the match in fear tonight due to violent clashes that occurred outside in what had all the hallmarks of an organised attack.
"Thugs came to Derry masked and armed with an array of weapons.
"Local young people were injured — I hope they recover swiftly.
"This madness must stop before someone is killed.
"It is awful that after what has been such a tremendously positive week for the city through the Foyle Cup, this is what will hit the headlines tomorrow.
"I must commend the efforts of the stewards in the Brandywell who did their very best in extremely difficult circumstances."
Anyone with information or footage that could assist police with their enquiries is asked to contact 101, quoting reference number 1637 of July 25.
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Sunday World
7 hours ago
- Sunday World
Hooligan ‘supporters' of Derry and Bohs had pre-arranged ‘fight' to coincide with game
The Sunday World understands the disturbances, which included a firework being thrown onto Derry's pitch, were planned in advance. Violent scenes unfolded outside the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium before and after the League of Ireland fixture against Dublin side Bohemians Videos circulating online show people, some of them with their faces covered, fighting in the street. Videos circulating online show people, some of them with their faces covered, fighting in the street. Videos circulating online show people, some of them with their faces covered, fighting in the street. Rival hooligan gangs clashed in an organised fight in Derry on Friday night. Two people were injured after rival fans clashed with sticks, bats and iron bars outside the Brandywell as Derry City took on fellow League of Ireland side Bohemians. The Sunday World understands the disturbances, which included a firework being thrown onto Derry's 5G pitch, were planned in advance. A group of self-styled 'Ultras' attached to Derry were denied entry to the ground on Friday but had an arranged 'rumble' with a similar mob attached to the Bohs. It is also understood the majority of those involved on the Derry side were aged between eight and 18, say witnesses who attended the match. Videos circulating online show people, some of them with their faces covered, fighting in the street. Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 27th Sources also claim the rioters had been guarding the Meenan Square bonfire which has drawn criticism for bearing sectarian and anti-Israel images. 'The riot was arranged,' a source told the Sunday World. 'These idiots are just spoiling for a fight but they have to take on, so when the Bohs come to town there's an opportunity for a dust-up.' He said the Ultras are routinely refused access to the Brandywell. 'There's never any trouble at the Brandywell, these people aren't football fans,' one witness said. Social media posts linking to the trouble to dissident groups have been discounted, but a war of words has broken out between Bohs fans and those from Derry. Violent scenes unfolded outside the Ryan McBride Brandywell. Bohs Ultras have taunted their counterparts, claiming they were beaten on their own patch. A statement posted online by the Derry IRSP claimed a mob of '100 drugged-up Bohs fans'' set about invading the Bogside armed with hatchets and knives. 'We commend the resilience of the Bogside, for 50 years they have fought off invasion from the Crown forces so it was obvious a mob of jumped-up junkies wouldn't have had a chance.' Videos circulating online show people, some of them with their faces covered, fighting in the street on Friday. SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan was at the game and said he was left frightened by what he had witnessed. And Sinn Féin MLA Padraig Delargy said 'so-called football supporters from Dublin' attacked local people. The PSNI said disorder was focused in the Lecky Road and Lone Moor Road areas. Videos circulating online show people, some of them with their faces covered, fighting in the street. 'Shortly after 7pm on Friday evening, police were made aware of two large groups of rival football supporters in the area attacking each other near the Lecky Road flyover with sticks, bats and iron bars and causing damage to buildings and cars parked in the area. 'A teenage boy and a man aged in his 20s sustained injuries as a result of this incident and were taken to hospital for treatment. 'Further disorder then occurred in the vicinity of the Brandywell stadium during and after a football match which was taking place. 'There were people gathered with sticks, golf clubs and fireworks. 'They were roaming the perimeter prior to the match ending, and they were masked-up as well,' he said. 'So while I have pointed the finger, accurately I believe, at the people who came on the bus for starting the bother, the stuff afterwards was retaliatory.' The match was also briefly suspended after a flare was thrown from outside the ground onto the pitch. Mr Delargy, an MLA for Foyle, also condemned the trouble. He said many people in the area had felt frightened. 'The sight of masked youths armed with an array of weapons and fighting in the streets before turning on the PSNI was terrifying for local residents, including children, who witnessed this appalling violence,' he said. 'In what seems to have been a pre-arranged attack connected to a football match at the Brandywell, the violence erupted when so-called football supporters from Dublin attacked local youths as well as cars and property belonging to residents. 'That is disgraceful and the violence that took place on our streets needs to be condemned. 'It threatened the safety and wellbeing of local residents and stands in stark contrast to the fantastic work that is going on in the area through the Féile and the redevelopment of Meenan Square.' The match finished in a 1-1 draw. Afolabi Akinyemi's first goal for the Candystripes broke the deadlock, before Ross Tierney levelled things for Bohemians. Superintendent William Calderwood said: 'We believe that the disorder we witnessed on Friday evening was pre-arranged and we will be reviewing all available footage to identify those involved. 'I would ask anyone with information or footage which could assist us with our enquiries to contact officers at Strand Road on 101, quoting reference number 1637 25/07/25. 'A report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via or you can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at
Irish Post
12 hours ago
- Irish Post
MLA condemns 'disgusting and disgraceful' clashes surrounding League of Ireland match
AN MLA has branded scenes of disorder surrounding Friday night's League of Ireland clash between Derry and Bohemians as 'disgusting and disgraceful'. Mark Durkan was speaking after the clubs drew 1-1 in their game at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, with clashes between rival fans in the area before, during and after the game. Police have now launched an investigation and said they believe the clashes were 'pre-arranged'. Two hospitalised The PSNI said they were alerted shortly after 7pm on Friday of two large groups of rival supporters attacking each other near the Lecky Road flyover with sticks, bats and iron bars. They also caused damage to buildings and cars parked in the Lecky Road and Lone Moor Road areas. A teenage boy and a man aged in his 20s were taken to hospital after being injured. Police said further disorder then occurred in the vicinity of the stadium during and after the football match. Videos of the clashes posted online also showed one group aiming fireworks at rival supporters. "We believe that the disorder we witnessed on Friday evening was pre-arranged and we will be reviewing all available footage to identify those involved," said Superintendent William Calderwood. 'Organised attack' Speaking after the game, Mr Durkan said that someone could have been killed. "Just back from the Brandywell," said the SDLP MLA for Foyle. "It is disgusting and disgraceful that so many football fans and families left the match in fear tonight due to violent clashes that occurred outside in what had all the hallmarks of an organised attack. "Thugs came to Derry masked and armed with an array of weapons. "Local young people were injured — I hope they recover swiftly. "This madness must stop before someone is killed. "It is awful that after what has been such a tremendously positive week for the city through the Foyle Cup, this is what will hit the headlines tomorrow. "I must commend the efforts of the stewards in the Brandywell who did their very best in extremely difficult circumstances." Anyone with information or footage that could assist police with their enquiries is asked to contact 101, quoting reference number 1637 of July 25.
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Wexford FC suffer defeat in Dundalk to lose further ground in play-off race
A first-half double from Gbemi Arubi put the Lilywhites in control, but Wexford got a real foothold in the game when substitute Muhammad Haris halved the deficit shortly after the interval. However, Keith Ward restored the two-goal cushion in the 63rd minute and, although Mikie Rowe pulled one back late on, the visitors couldn't force an equaliser, leaving them seven points adrift of fifth-placed Treaty United. Stephen Elliott named an unchanged eleven from the previous weekend's 4-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup and the visitors again got off to a nightmare start – something that has happened too often this season. There was little over 90 seconds on the clock when the hosts struck the front through Arubi. Daryl Horgan turned smartly to his right and whipped in an inviting delivery. Former Wexford player Eoin Kenny headed the cross towards goal and, although Paul Martin made the save, the alert Arubi was on hand to finish from close range. The lively attacker quickly threatened to grab a second when he broke clear, but his shot was well blocked by Dean Larkin. After a difficult opening, Wexford had their first sight of goal in the 11th minute when Ben McCormack found Ajibola Oluwabiya, and the winger curled a right-footed effort over the crossbar from just outside the 18-yard box. Mikie Rowe then cut inside but was well off target with his left while, at the other end, Aodh Dervin showed good feet before getting a shot away, but his long-range effort was always rising. After Dervin dragged another effort wide, Dundalk did grab their second goal just before the half hour mark and they did so in style. Declan McDaid glanced a header towards Arubi and the frontman blasted a sweet first-time effort to the corner of the net, giving goalkeeper Paul Martin no chance. The hosts were threatening to run riot and, after good work from Arubi, Daryl Horgan tried to pick out McDaid, but he was denied by good defending from James Crawford. Wexford weathered the storm and when Michael McCarthy played a long ball forward for Aaron Dobbs to run on to in the 38th minute and the striker was taken down by goalkeeper Enda Minogue, it briefly looked like the visitors would have a route back into the game. However, the offside flag was quickly up for what was a marginal call, so the referee didn't have a decision to make. Muhammad Haris, who only recently joined Wexford from the Lilywhites, was introduced for the start of the second-half and he quickly came back to haunt his former side as he brought the visitors back into the contest in the 50th minute. Another former Dundalk player, Robbie McCourt, played a hopeful ball forward which Minogue inexplicably allowed to slip from his grasp, and Haris had the simple task of rolling to the net for his first League of Ireland goal. Unfortunately, the wind was soon taken out of Wexford's sails when another substitute, experienced campaigner Keith Ward, grabbed Dundalk's third goal in the 63rd minute. A dangerous McDaid cross was only cleared as far as Ward and the playmaker fired a stunning volley that flew past Martin and into the net. Having started the second-half well it was a bitter blow for the Slaneysiders but, to their credit, they kept plugging away and Dean Larkin steered a McCormack free-kick narrowly wide moments later. Arubi and Ward were both off target with efforts as the hosts tried to put the contest to bed, while McDaid couldn't generate enough power on a header from a Horgan cross. Wexford managed to just about stay in the game though and, after McCormack shot wide, they were right back in the contest in the 87th minute when Mikie Rowe grabbed a lifeline. McCourt clipped a free-kick to Calum Flynn, with the substitute lifting the ball across the box and when it fell to Dean Larkin, he nodded on to Rowe, who applied a tidy finish past Minogue for his 16th league goal of the season. Aodh Dervin's strike deflected wide off McCourt as Dundalk threatened a quick response, but Wexford almost rescued an unlikely share of the spoils in the 94th minute as Dean Larkin got his head to a Cian Browne long throw, but the ball drifted narrowly wide of the far post. It was Wexford's second successive 3-2 defeat to the league leaders, having suffered the same fate in their previous meeting in Ferrycarrig Park at the end of May. Wexford will be hoping to get a much-needed win when they host Finn Harps on Friday and the Donegal side should be in high spirits, having held high-flying Cobh Ramblers to a 2-2 draw at the weekend. Dundalk: Enda Minogue; John Ross Wilson, Conor O'Keeffe, Vinnie Leonard, Shane Tracey; Aodh Dervin, Harry Groome; Declan McDaid, Eoin Kenny, Daryl Horgan; Gbemi Arubi. Subs. – Andy Parashiv for Groome (56), Keith Ward for Kenny (56), Rohan Vaughan for Horgan (78), Dean Ebbe for Arubi (78), Luke Mulligan for Tracey (90+1), also, Peter Cherrie, Sammy Safaei, Seán Spaight, T.J. Molloy. Wexford FC: Paul Martin; Michael McCarthy, Dean Larkin, Robbie McCourt, James Crawford; Matthew O'Brien, Kaylem Harnett, Ben McCormack; Mikie Rowe, Aaron Dobbs (capt.), Ajibola Oluwabiyi. Subs. – Muhammad Haris for Harnett (HT), Darragh Levingston for O'Brien (58), Cian Browne for Crawford (64), Filip Wasilewski for Oluwabiyi (64), Calum Flynn for Dobbs (71), also, Alex Moody, Zayd Abada, Ryan Butler, Patrick Manning. SSE AIRTRICITY FIRST DIVISION P W D L F A Pt Dundalk 24 15 7 2 39 18 52 Cobh Ramblers 24 14 4 6 41 24 46 Bray Wanderers 23 14 1 8 39 29 43 UCD 24 10 6 8 27 23 36 Treaty United 24 9 7 8 38 25 34 Wexford FC 24 7 6 11 28 33 27 Longford Town 23 6 7 10 22 39 25 Finn Harps 24 5 9 9 26 31 24 Kerry FC 24 6 3 14 24 41 21 Athlone Town 24 3 8 13 18 39 16
