The Five Demands

Charges over protest at Alliance HQ (UTV)

Two people have been charged in connection with a disturbance during a Republican protest outside the headquarters of the Alliance Party in Belfast.
The incident happened at University Street on Thursday at around 1.10pm.

The protest was staged by the Republican Network for Unity, who admitted firing horse excrement at the building.

A 27-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man were arrested.

The woman has been charged with criminal damage, two counts of assault on police and disorderly behaviour.

The man has been charged with criminal damage.

In a statement, the group said they were bringing the ongoing dirty protest from Maghaberry Prison to the doors of the Alliance Justice Minister, David Ford.

Republicans have been involved in a long running protest at the prison in relation to strip searching.

“This action was taken to remind David Ford that while he prevaricates and plays games with scanning machines,” the statement said.

It added: “49 Republican prisoners are suffering the serious effects of a ‘dirty protest’, living in excrement filled cells and being forced to inhale toxic fumes in cells which are hosed down with deep cleansing chemicals.”

The pair are both due to appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 31 October.