Fire chief warns of spiralling attacks on crews

Northern Ireland’s Chief Fire Officer today warned spiralling attacks on his crews could result in someone being killed.

John McClelland was speaking as he accepted an illuminated scroll of honour to mark the sacrifice made by firefighters and back-up staff in Ulster over many turbulent years.

The first ever award presented by the province’s devolved government was presented by the Speaker in the Stormont Assembly, Lord Alderdice.

But as it emerged that fire crews have been plunged into more than 100 incidents of civil unrest this month alone, Mr McClelland used the occasion to urge those responsible to stop before it is too late.

‘‘I don’t know where it’s leading, I don’t know what its purpose is, but if common sense doesn’t prevail serious injury will result or worse than that, loss of life,’’ he said.

Fire chiefs have outlined growing fears following a number of incidents over the past few days.

These include stone and petrol bomb attacks in Londonderry and reports that guns were brandished in the Co Armagh towns of Lurgan and Dungannon.

Although he said the Fire Brigade has been targeted over 30 years as it battled to save lives and property, Mr McClelland flagged up a worrying new development.

‘‘What we are seeing now is a different dimension with seemingly indiscriminate attacks which don’t seem to be orchestrated in any way and don’t seem to have any clear motive other than to attack public services,’’ he said.

As fire officers past and present, and the widows of those who died in the line of duty, gathered in the Great Hall at Parliament Buildings, Mr McClelland spoke of his great pride in accepting the civic award which Stormont Assembly members had unanimously endorsed.

‘‘I place great value on the support which come from all quarters and reflects our service ethos to serve all sections of the community without fear or favour,’’ he remarked.

But his pleasure was tinged by hooligans who are putting lives at risk by preventing his officers performing their vital tasks, he added.

His concerns were echoed by Jim Barbour of the Fire Brigades Union who noted that 800 of his members had been injured in the last five years.

Mr Barbour also pointed out 102 incidents have been logged so far this month where officers have responded to rioting only for the crowds to turn on them in many cases.

‘‘It’s absolutely scandalous that this is continuing,’’ he said.

There’s a trend where firefighters have been called and then encircled by mobs and attacked.

‘‘The only ones that have come to attention are the gun attacks in Lurgan and Dungannon and the incidents in Londonderry but you are only seeing the tip of the iceberg.’’

Performing his first public role as acting First Minister following David Trimble’s resignation from the post, Ulster Unionist MLA Sir Reg Empey paid tribute to the immense contribution the service had made during the Troubles.

‘‘The Fire Service has always responded without questioning the politics or religion of those affected,’’ he said.

Sinn Fein’s Health and Public Safety Minister, Bairbre de Brun, echoed his sentiments, declaring that the Province’s entire community owes the Service a debt of gratitude.

‘‘Your unswerving dedication to duty has meant that lives have been saved, and will continue to be saved,’’ she said.