Falls Park: Families staying away due to ‘criminality’

Local priest, Father Martin Magill, has called for a “joint community response” to the issue, adding that it is not just an issue for the police, but for parents and schools too.

“It starts with parents, do you know where your children are? Do you know who they are with?” he said.

“Is there value in parents taking a walk through the Falls Park on a Saturday night, just to see the goings on?”

Police have said that Belfast City Council wardens have been an “invaluable” help tackling anti-social behaviour and have made a “huge difference in Falls Park”.

A Belfast City Council spokesperson said the authority has been “working closely with the PSNI and youth workers, intervening in several altercations and dispersing those involved”.

“Unfortunately, a young male was assaulted further into the park, and our officers immediately alerted the PSNI and Northern Ireland Ambulance Service who responded swiftly.

“Our staff remained on site to assist emergency responders and worked with the PSNI to disperse the remaining group of young people.”

The council said it is “committed to ensuring the safety of our parks and will continue to work closely with the PSNI and other partners to address antisocial behaviour and violence. We encourage anyone with information about the assault to contact the PSNI”.