Family Horrified by Violence After Alleged Ballymena Sex Attack Victim

The family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena are “mortified” at the violence that has unfolded over recent days.

Chief Constable's Plea
The Chief Constable said he has spoken to the young girl’s family and they had asked him to make a plea for the rioting to end. “Let’s stop it now, Everybody wants it to stop” Jon Boutcher said. “I reiterate the retraumatising of this poor girl, she’s been through enough through what happened to her on Saturday evening. She doesn’t want any of this.

Return of a Suspect
The Chief Constable also mentioned that the PSNI is working on returning an individual to Northern Ireland who is a suspect in the investigation of the alleged sexual assault in Ballymena. Two teenagers have already been charged and remain in custody in connection with the incident.

Community Response
Mr Boutcher emphasized the unified response from party leaders and ministers in condemning the recent events. He highlighted the distinction between lawful protest and criminal actions, urging an end to threats and violence targeted at diverse families. The consequences for the youth engaging in disorder were cited as potentially detrimental to their futures.