PSNI apologise for bus attacks

Soccer News: The PSNI's most senior police officer in Derry yesterday apologised to the supporters of Linfield who were injured when their buses were stoned by youths after Tuesday night's friendly game between the Belfast club and Derry City at the Brandywell.

Ten travelling Linfield supporters were treated for shock when stones and other missiles were thrown by about 20 youths at six buses transporting 300 Linfield supporters from the Brandywell following the 1-1 draw.

Eight windows were smashed in the attacks on the buses which took place as the vehicles were being escorted by a private security company.

The Brandywell is unique in European soccer in that it's the only UEFA registered stadium which is not required to have a police presence on match days.

The police were not present at the game. Instead they escorted the Linfield buses to within a mile of the stadium from where protection was provided by the security company along with members of the Community Restorative Justice group.

Chief Supt Richard Russell admitted the police-planned operation for the first Brandywell game between the two sides in over 36 years had not been perfect, but he rejected claims that the PSNI had handed over the security responsibilities to two civilian groups.

"I had 100 officers on duty last night. I want to put what happened in context. In a city of 108,000 people, about a dozen mindless hooligans spoiled what had been a very successful night.

"I accept that we have let the Linfield fans down and I apologise to them for that. It was a very complicated policing operation and unfortunately one of the pieces did not fall into place and as a result the buses were stoned.

"We did not deliberately put the fans in danger. It is not the case that we simply handed over our responsibilities to community groups and to a private security company."

The manager of the security company, which provided the escort for Linfield fans, said he regretted the incident. Chris McKnight of Estate Services NI Limited said a "few thugs" were responsible for the attacks.

"Nobody was seriously injured by the grace of God but the stone throwing could not have been prevented, no matter who was there," he added.