An independent councillor says he has been targeted by "delinquent criminals" after threatening graffiti appeared in Newtownards.
Councillor Steven Irvine says that he will not be deterred by the threats from a crime gang who he says is terrorising the Newtownards community and have taken control of a local housing development.
It has also been claimed that the gang have been issuing threats to community workers and residents in the area.
Read more: Protest to be held over PSNI handling of Ards and North Down feud
Councillor Irvine had organised a protest among residents for Friday evening after raising concerns regarding the PSNI's handling of the problems in the area, however following a meeting with police, blogger Jamie Bryson and MLA Mike Nesbitt, this has been postponed for two weeks when it will be reviewed.
In a statement the councillor said that he is dealing with the impact of the crime gang every day and it is causing a lot of harm and distress to the people of Newtownards, with the Weavers area "being used as a base to launch criminal attacks on the community".
He said: “I am the latest person to be targeted by this crime gang, who are terrorising the local community, defacing the area with graffiti, attacking property, issuing threats to community workers and local residents and who have taken control of a local housing development.
“I am dealing, every day, with the effects of this crime gang and the harm and distress they are causing to ordinary people in Newtownards.
“They are brazenly parading around the Weavers area, using it as a base to launch their criminal attacks on the community, and have that whole community gripped by fear.
“This simply can not be allowed to continue. This small group of delinquent criminals, who are not loyalists, have never been loyalists and who are viewed as the dregs of society by ordinary loyalists, have terrorised this community for long enough and I am calling on the PSNI, with the support of the local community, to take back control.”
Following the meeting with PSNI officers in Newtownards, Strangford MLA Mike Nesbitt said: “I accepted an invitation to attend a meeting regarding the current situation in Newtownards. For me the value of the meeting was to hear residents’ concerns and deepen understanding of policing decisions.”
READ NEXT:
Three arrested after 'unlawful assembly' in Weaver's Grange estate
- Crumlin crash claims second life, police say
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
