BY MICHAEL BRESLIN

Riots in Enniskillen will not be tolerated, according to the head of police in Enniskillen.

The Chief Inspector has called on residents of housing estates to 'close ranks' on those misbehaving.

Chief Inspector Alywin Barton, has promised that Saturday night's disturbance at Cornagrade Road, Enniskillen in which petrol bombs were hurled at police officers and firefighters who were responding to a burning telegraph pole blaze, will not be allowed to recur.

Up to 15 youths were involved in the disturbance which resulted in huge display windows in nearby business premises being shattered and the area littered with broken bottles.

One resident, who asked to remain anonymous, told the 'Herald' that the youths had been misbehaving from mid-afternoon, chucking eggs at passing traffic.

"They were so blasé about it. I went to bed about 12 midnight and there were ructions going on at that point. I just stayed in my bedroom because I just knew from being here not to get involved. When I got up the next morning, there were bottles everywhere. It was just terrible.

"For the elderly people, it must have been quite scary. They do this most week-ends. they just have no consideration. They go around smashing things, breaking fences and throwing bottles. The 'Twelfth' was just an excuse. Most of the residents around here are Catholic, and it was the Catholics they were getting it".

Chief Inspector Barton also condemned an arson attack at Mill Street in the town which did some £15,000 damage to St Michael's Scout Centre. While not linking this incident with the Cornagrade Road riot, he said there was no justification for what he called, 'any of this nonsense'.

He commented: "It's a nonsense that affects people's quality of life, and the people it's putting in fear are the friends, neighbours and relations of those who are carrying out this disorderly and riotous behaviour.

"Setting fire to the scout hall: who does this affect? Only the young people who are using the hall, and they have little enough facilities. What does it achieve? Absolutely nothing. It cannot be deemed to support anyone's agenda, no matter how contorted".

Mr Barton revealed that Police officers had scuppered an attempt on Friday night by young people to start a riot, but he promised there would be no repeat of Saturday night's disturbances. And, he appealed to the local community to close ranks against those misbehaving.

"I would appeal to the huge number of residents in the Enniskillen area who agree with my sentiments that this behaviour is completely deplorable and cannot be justified or supported. It should not have happened and I would appeal to them to use Crimestoppers or to contact some of my beat officers to make sure that this does not happen again and to bring to book those people who have been involved in this activity."

Continuing, Chief Inspector Barton said their work had got to start now to ensuring there would be no repeat on last Saturday night/Sunday morning's riot next year.

He concluded: "The work has got to begin now to figure out how to make sure for this period that if people want to celebrate the Twelfth or avoid it, that their wishes are supported, and that any trouble or violence will not be accepted."