Dispute in Carrick estate costs £1.6m to police

A senior police officer has warned the Policing Board that the risk of violence in the Castlemara estate in Carrickfergus is “very high” – amid a dispute which has cost £1.6m to police.

Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin said he was extremely concerned about potential deaths and public disorder.

A dispute between the South East Antrim UDA and a local family and their 'associates' has been ongoing since July and has resulted in a nightly policing operation to try and contain it.

The police are now appealing for political and civic leaders to use their influence to resolve the stand-off through mediation.

ACC Martin said nine people had been charged in relation to the situation since May.

He added that the South East Antrim UDA was a sizeable organisation comprising "several hundred" members.

The police presence in the area was required on a daily basis, he explained, but was draining funds and diverting resources from other priorities.

Alliance East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson said the cost of £1.6m over the past five months has been a “public scandal”.

He added: “This is an absolute waste of police time and public money. Money that should be spent on normal day-to-day community policing.

"The police have confirmed that nine people have been charged with a range of offences, including drugs, intimidation, and possession of weapons.

“The police have also recovered guns and cocaine during searches.

"Clearly the gangs involved in this dispute care nothing about the people living in this area, many of whom are living in fear.

"The police need the help of the local community to do their job fully, and I would urge anyone with information about criminal activities to pass it to the police on the 101 number.”