Derry City v Bohemians: MLA condemns ‘attack by thugs’ at Derry City clash

Local MLA Mark H Durkan, who was at the game, said the events were ‘genuinely scary’

Carl Winchester of Derry City after a flare was thrown onto the pitch during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Derry City and Bohemians at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in Derry. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Derry City players Carl Winchester, Sam Todd and Mark Connolly after a flare was thrown onto the pitch during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Derry City and Bohemians at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in Derry. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Videos circulating online appear to show trouble outside the stadium.

Two people were injured after rival fans clashed with sticks, bats and iron bars at last night’s Derry City match.

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.

Today the PSNI said two people needed hospital treatment.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) said it was investigating the incident.

Local SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan was at the game, and said he was left frightened by what he had witnessed.

Sinn Fein MLA Padraig Delargy, meanwhile, said “so-called football supporters from Dublin” attacked local people.

Police believe the violence was orchestrated.

Derry City players Carl Winchester, Sam Todd and Mark Connolly after a flare was thrown onto the pitch during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Derry City and Bohemians at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in Derry. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

The PSNI said disorder was focused in the Lecky Road and Lone Moor Road areas.

“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.

"Officers were in attendance and worked along with stadium staff to bring the disorder under control. No arrests have been made at this time.”

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.”

Speaking today, Mr Durkan condemned the trouble, saying “thugs came to Derry masked and armed with an array of weapons.”

‘People were genuinely frightened and that shouldn’t be the case, especially when they go to a football match’

He told the Belfast Telegraph: “In terms of scale and the level of violence and danger to those in the vicinity, we haven’t seen anything like this and I hope we never do again."

Mr Durkan said he was late to the match due to an unrelated incident, and arrived to find the stadium “in lockdown”.

He said a bus-load of fans – separate to the organised Bohs travelling support – arrived in the city and caused problems, which continued after the full-time whistle when some locals retaliated.

“A bus-load of people - I wouldn’t call them fans - came here intent on causing bother,” he said.

“I can’t be certain it was an organised fight but there certainly seemed to be elements of choreography to their attack.

“The stewards at the Brandywell were under a lot of pressure. I was speaking to them in the second half and after the match, and they did their best in a very difficult situation. So too the police, who were liaising with the stewards and the security team at the Brandywell.”

Mr Durkan described how he had to leave quickly after a group of visiting fans ran in his direction.

“At one point the Derry security team was trying to keep the Bohs fans in the ground but 40 or 50 broke away and just came towards where I was standing,” he added.

“It was genuinely scary. I don’t scare easily but we did turn on our heels and go in the opposite direction.

"People were genuinely frightened and that shouldn’t be the case, especially when they go to a football match.”

Mr Durkan said trouble continued as the game ended.

Carl Winchester of Derry City after a flare was thrown onto the pitch during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Derry City and Bohemians at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in Derry. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

“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 well-being 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.

The FAI said: “The League of Ireland and Football Association of Ireland are currently investigating reports of public order incidents in the vicinity of last night’s fixture between Derry City and Bohemians at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

"We will continue to work with the relevant authorities and both clubs to ascertain the full information related to the incidents and any further information will be provided when available."

Derry City and Bohemians have been contacted for comment.

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