Man released on bail as Ballymena war memorial investigation continues

A 26-year-old man arrested following two attacks on a war memorial in Ballymena has been released on bail as police continue their investigation.

The man was arrested on Tuesday 11 August, on suspicion of theft and criminal damage in connection with incidents at the Queen Street memorial in Harryville.

Police have now confirmed today, Wednesday 12 August, that he has since been released on bail to allow for further enquiries to be carried out.

The development comes after the memorial was targeted twice in the space of three days, with flags stolen and flag poles damaged.

Police treating attacks as linked hate crimes

The first incident occurred early on Saturday, 8 August, when flag poles were broken and flags taken from the memorial.

Replacement flags were subsequently put up, but the site was targeted again in the early hours of Monday, 10 August, when flags were once more reported stolen and flag poles damaged.

Following the second incident, Superintendent Calderwood confirmed that police believed the two attacks were connected.

He said:

“We believe both incidents to be linked and are treating them as sectarian motivated hate crimes.”

The memorial was erected by the local community around 15 years ago in remembrance of men from Queen Street who died on 1 July 1916 at the Battle of the Somme.

It was removed during construction of the Home Bargains store development before being reinstated around 20 yards further along Queen Street in June this year. A memorial summer seat was also added earlier this year.

Quigley thanks community for helping police investigation

The Somme War Memorial in the Harryville srea iof Ballymena

Independent Ballymena Councillor Rodney Quigley has thanked members of the community who provided CCTV footage and statements to police following the two attacks on the Queen Street Somme Memorial.

Councillor Quigley said:

“I would just like to say thank you to everyone from our community who came forward with CCTV footage and provided statements to the PSNI in relation to the two attacks on the Queen Street Somme Memorial.

“An individual, who I understand is not from the Ballymena area, was arrested in connection with the investigation, and I hope the police are now able to establish the full circumstances surrounding what happened.

“I would also like to thank everyone from other parts of our town who contacted me with kind words of support and to express their condemnation of these attacks.”

Investigation remains ongoing

The repeated attacks prompted widespread condemnation in Ballymena, while volunteers from Harryville and Clonavon Recovery & Regenerate had spent recent weeks cleaning and improving the area around the memorial.

Following the man’s arrest, Superintendent Calderwood thanked those who had already assisted police but stressed that the investigation remained ongoing.

He said:

“I would like to thank all those who have assisted us with our enquiries so far but our investigation into these incidents is ongoing and I would continue to appeal to anyone who was in the Queen Street/Harryville areas early in the morning on Saturday 8th or Monday 10th August and who may have noticed any suspicious activity or captured dash-cam footage which could assist with our enquiries to contact us.”

Anyone who can assist police can use the PSNI witness appeal form.

The reference is 275 10/08/26.

Information can also be provided by calling police on 101.

Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.

No charge has been announced and the 26-year-old has been released on bail while police carry out further enquiries into the two incidents.