Unionist politicians and police came under missile attack when leaving a District Policing Partnership meeting in the nationalist Short Strand area of east Belfast last night.
Former Ulster Unionist Party Lord Mayor Jim Rodgers and Wallace Browne of the DUP had eggs and other items thrown at them as they left the local community centre alongside police officers.
Police said a small protest was held without incident outside the centre during the meeting and no-one was injured when the missiles were thrown afterwards.
Mr Rodgers said about 70 people attended the meeting to discuss local policing issues.
A demonstration by people holding Irish Republican Socialist Party posters was held outside and a masked man clambered on to the roof to watch the meeting through a skylight, he said.
“When Councillor Wallace Browne and myself were leaving alongside police officers, missiles including eggs were thrown at us," he said. "Behaviour like this is sickening and disgusting.”
Sinn Féin councillor Gerard O’Neill, who was also at the meeting, said the missile-throwing was not representative of the feelings of the local community.
“The East Belfast DPP were invited to the area by local community workers. There were many issues people wanted to raise with the DPP regarding policing.
“People need to understand that the majority of people in that area want to receive a good policing service.
“It is unfortunate that there were young people who, in my view, were motivated by the protesters to take the action that they did. That was unfortunate.”
PA