RUC fires plastic bullets as nationalists attack Orange hall

The RUC last night used plastic bullets to disperse nationalists who were attacking the Corcrain Orange Hall in Portadown with…

The RUC last night used plastic bullets to disperse nationalists who were attacking the Corcrain Orange Hall in Portadown with petrol bombs.

The roof of the hall was slightly damaged by fire and an RUC officer received minor injuries from a firework thrown from Corcrain Bridge.

A man was admitted to Craigavon Hospital claiming he was hit in the arm by a plastic bullet.

The RUC also came under fire from petrol bombs and stones in the nationalist Ballyoran area of Garvaghy Road.

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Meanwhile, in Craigavon the RUC fired a plastic bullet when officers came under attack from a crowd throwing stones, bottles and petrol bombs. The confrontation was at Tullygally East Road just before 9 p.m.

Earlier last night, cars were hijacked and set alight in nationalist areas of Portadown as protesters took to the streets following the funeral of Ms Nelson.

From early evening, RUC officers in riot gear were deployed at flashpoints close to Garvaghy Road. The road was closed to traffic after 7 p.m. when a bus was hijacked and set alight close to the Churchill Park area.

In the loyalist Corcrain Estate a crowd gathered close to nationalist Craigwell Avenue. The RUC quickly moved in to block the main route, preventing loyalists and nationalists from confronting each other.

Shortly before 10 p.m. police in full riot gear moved the loyalist crowds back. Tempers flared, with loyalists accusing the RUC of unnecessary heavy-handed tactics.