Fountain peace wall 'must stay'

Trouble flared at the interface between Bishop Street and the Fountain

A community worker from the Fountain in Londonderry has said the peace wall between the estate and surrounding nationalist streets cannot come down.

Alistair Simpson's comments followed trouble which broke out between the Fountain and Upper Bennett Street on Sunday night.

People living in both the Fountain and Bennett Street areas said they were hit with objects.

Two men arrested by police have been released on bail.

Alistair Simpson said the removal of the peace wall would worsen community relations.

"There'll be no discussions regarding taking the wall down," he said.

"The people of the Fountain will not be able to live on the west bank if that wall is taken away," he said.

The Fountain is the last remaining Protestant estate on the predominantly Catholic west bank of the River Foyle.

Interface area

Residents living on the interface between the Fountain and Bishop Street had criticised the police response to trouble in the area.

Residents in Upper Bennett Street said it took more than an hour for police to respond to their calls.

SDLP councillor Helen Quigley said the trouble had gone on for some time.

"This started apparently at four o'clock yesterday afternoon, and it was still going on at ten o'clock last night," said Mrs Quigley.

"Eventually the police moved to arrest a couple of people within the Fountain," she said.

A man who was struck by a brick said he did not know why the trouble had broken out.

"It's been quiet for a good few weeks, but it could be people coming from out of the area to have a row, walk away and leave the people of Upper Bennett Street to deal with that.

"That is totally wrong, not in this day and age," he said.

Police are investigating the incident.