Craigavon: the Collins family was left traumatised after an RUC-PSNI gang smashed their way into their home, before assaulting a mother and her children and arresting a concerned relative.

Cathy Collins and her family spoke with éirígí activist Colin Duffy about the events. Colin outlined the ordeal that was left out of many of the media reports about yesterday’s events.

Colin said: “I was outside the family home when the raid began and I was inside immediately afterwards speaking with the family, who are close friends of mine. The reality of the RUC–PSNI was here for all to see in broad daylight and the residents of this estate remain justifiably suspicious of the force.

“Cathy and her young family had to endure a savage and unprovoked attack on their home yesterday, which we all saw (see above for footage). What went on inside the house once these thugs gained entry was horrific. Having endured in fear the sustained battering on their front door, the family was then subjected to violent assault and arrest when the frustrated Crown Forces gained access through the rear of the home, having failed to smash their way through the front.

“Cathy and her children were verbally and physically abused, forced into the back garden against a shed, searched and interrogated. When Cathy’s brother arrived to establish what had happened, he was then arrested, while her son was also threatened with arrest.